Five Favourite Fingerplays for Fine Motor Development
Fingerplays (action songs) are a tool widely used at home and in early years settings. These songs are a wonderful way to support early development in a number of areas.
Attention and listening
Singing together encourages a child to engage in joint attention with others. Initially this is likely to be with a key caregiver and later can be encouraged in a small group. Joint attention during the songs may initially involve a fleeting shared enjoyment and eye contact, but this can be built on over time so that a child is able to engage in the shared experience for longer periods and is encouraged to imitate what the adult is doing. Singing encourages the child to listen carefully to the words and tune of the song whilst the actions give a focus, encouraging visual attention. Songs are wonderful for developing a child’s sense of anticipation as they become more familiar with the songs and wait for their favourite part of a song e.g. a big ‘pop’ moment or a tickle. For older children action songs offer a much-needed movement break between seated activities. These movement breaks allow the child to reset and refocus.
Fine motor development
Fingerplays encourage the use of the small muscles in our hands which support finger isolation, dexterity and hand eye coordination, all of which are needed for daily living and writing skills later on.
Language skills
A child’s early skills in listening to sounds in words, understanding and using language are all supported through action songs. The repetitive refrains in simple action songs allow several opportunities for a child to learn key phrases and to verbally engage in the song. The child’s understanding of the language in the song is supported by the actions. In early years setting or a classroom the child’s understanding of the language (as well as concepts such as colours and numbers) can be supported using pictures.
Emotional development
For many children songs are soothing, often used initially as lullabies or associated with times when they have been given love and attention by a carer. It is important to offer these early experiences of sharing songs together and later to use songs to help children to stay calm, self-regulate and build relationships.
Here are our five favourite fingerplays which have a particular focus on finger isolation and dexterity.
Tommy Thumb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abWFIy0r9Fs
Incy Wincy Spider
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUhHNsm9-84
Two Little Dickie Birds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3u6Gw2_X6c
I Had a Little Turtle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09bf-phvFH4
Once I Caught a Fish Alive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byv5qKsFqWQ
For a bit of extra fun give Baby Shark a go too!
TOP TIP:
There is no substitution for human interaction! Although I have linked videos to the songs for your reference, I would recommend not using a screen when sharing fingerplays with your child (or an interactive whiteboard in the classroom). Screens are great for grabbing children’s attention; however this attention can often be passive and the child will be less likely to join in with the actions themselves. Also, the opportunity for building joint attention and for social communication development is lost.
Have fun singing and learning together.
Sarah Billingham is a specialist teacher and runs Confident Kids, a unique Early Years service. She equips parents with expert knowledge and the practical tools they need to offer their little people the very best early language support they can.
Join the Confident Communicators Facebook group to find out more about supporting language development for 0 – 5 year olds.
www.confidentkids.co