ACTION SONGS

Action songs help young children to experience music physically through play and enliven the interaction between parents and child. There are simple action songs that just involve you singing and clapping while they imitate your actions, through to songs they can sing with actions. Clapping and tapping also help to develop fine motor skills (i.e. movement and use of limbs) in the hands and fingers, and enhance their understanding of direction.
Action songs allow children to participate even when they can't sing all the words. This gives so much pleasure and can be the start of creative movement and expression. Above all action songs are great fun.


Top Tips
    * Have confidence in yourself and don't worry about sounding or looking silly. Your child won't notice and will be delighted.
    * Children love joining in and having great fun.
    * There are many action songs, a good source for ideas is the KIDiddles website.
    * A good time for action songs is when your child is relaxed, maybe after a sleep or food.
    * An action song sometimes has the power to alter their mood, making them happier and more content.
    * Try to get together with other parents and children to play action songs as a group, the children will enjoy this social aspect of music.
    * Action songs are a great way to make a car journey or a waiting in a queue pass quickly.
    * Whilst we are engaged with singing we relax because we can't think of any other things.


There are many action songs for children,for example:


"The Hokey Pokey"
You put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out;
You put your right foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out;
You put your left foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your right hand in,
You put your right hand out;
You put your right hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!...


"If You're Happy and You Know It"
If you're happy and you know it,
Clap your hands
If you're happy and you know it,
Clap your hands
If you're happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it,
Clap your hands.


If you're happy and you know it,
Stomp your feet
If you're happy and you know it,
Stomp your feet
If you're happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it,
Stomp your feet.


If you're happy and you know it,
Shout "Hurray!"
If you're happy and you know it,
Shout "Hurray!"
If you're happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it,
Shout "Hurray!"


If you're happy and you know it,
Do all three
If you're happy and you know it,
Do all three
If you're happy and you know it,
Then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it,
Do all three.


Head and Shoulders, knees and toes
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes
head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes
and eyes and ears, and mouth and nose
head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

Some interesting links:
 http://www.bigeyedowl.co.uk/show_songs.php?t=3


http://www.songsforteaching.com/movement.htm


http://kidsmusictown.com/childrenssongslyrics/actionparticipationmovement/




Es muy importante para los maestros de lenguas extranjeras utilizar "action songs" en el aula, ya que proporcionan a los niños la oportunidad de aprender de manera divertida otra lengua y además de otras muchas cosas. A los niños les encanta bailar y cantar y de esta manera, a través de canciones, podemos conseguir que pierdan el miedo a hablar en otra lengua y que por su puesto disfruten.