Your Turn Round The Garden
What you need
- a rug or floor cushions to sit on, side by side
How to do it
- Sing "Round and round the garden" slowly, drawing circles on their palm, then walk two fingers up their arm and tickle.
- Hold out your hand, palm up, for their turn.
- Sing again while they draw circles on your palm and walk two fingers up your arm for "one step, two steps".
- Laugh at their tickle, then hold out your other hand.
Why it matters
Taking a turn on you gives them the whole rhyme, the circling, the steps and the tickle, and they choose when it comes.
What they're learning
- Finger actions
- One finger drawing circles, two fingers walking up an arm.
- Leading the game
- They choose how slow the circles go and when the tickle lands.
- Words and actions together
- The steps match "one step, two steps" as you sing it.
What to look for
Watch for the pause they leave before the tickle, just like you do.
A tip
Make a big show of being tickled. It is the best bit for them, and it keeps the rhyme coming back.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: keep to the circles and the tickle, and leave out the steps
Harder: let them do it on Teddy's paw, singing it with you
