I know this is going to seem completely irrelevant and it sort of is... but I've been looking to find new songs to use for my Mommy and Me swim class and saw that you had some in an older post. I was wondering if you could repost the one's that you know? I'd really appreciate it!
--Anonymous
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Dear Anon,
We love special requests! Just for you, I've reposted the water songs my sister Abra posted back in April last year. I was also a swim instructor, although not for quite as long as Abra. Now that I'm a stay-at-home-mom I sing some of the same songs with my daughter in the pool. I've taken the liberty of adding some of "our" songs to the list as well.
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Here are the ones from Abra:
"The Grand Old Duke of York"
The Grand Old Duke of York
He had Ten Thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill (lift baby up as high as you're comfortable)
And he marched them down again. (Lower baby)
And when they're up, they're up (Lift again)
And when they're down, they're down (lower)
And when they're only halfway up (in the middle)
They're neither up or down.
He marched them to the left
He marched them to the right
He marched them around and around and around (circles)
And he marched them out of sight (Hide your eyes, babies eyes, or if you're brave and in the water, go ahead and put them under. To do this safely with infants under two, count 1-2-3 do a sharp quick breath right in their face. This causes a reflex action in which they inhale and hold their breath. Then it is safe to dunk them (shallow dunk) under the water.)
"Rain" (a great bathtub rhyme)
Rain is falling down (trickle water from sponge or fingers onto baby)
SPLASH! (splash hand in water)
Rain is falling down
SPLASH!
Pitter patter, pitter patter (lightly trickle)
Rain is falling down
SPLASH!
"Ten Little Bubbles"
One little, Two little, Three little bubbles
Four little, Five little, Six little bubbles
Seven little, Eight little, Nine little bubbles
Ten little bubbles go SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH! (or pop, pop, pop)
(I use bubbles and a bubble blower for this in the tub, pool, or out! Each time bubble is mentioned, I blow bubbles with the bubble wand. Babies love this! To encourage bubble blowing in the pool, graduate to blowing right in the water - minus the bubble wand and bubbles!)
"If you're Happy and you Know It"
(We all know the song, I'll give you the actions I use in the water)
Splash your hands
Kick your Feet
Put one ear in the water
Put the other ear in the water
Blow some bubbles
Put your face in the water
Shout Hurray!
Wave To Daddy, Mommy, Grandma, Grandpa, whomever
"We're going to Kentucky"
We're going to Kentucky, (start turning a circle)
We're going to the fair (Turn the other way)
To see a Senorita with flowers in her hair
Oh Shake it baby shake it! (Wiggle gently while holding baby if little, or wiggle baby if bigger)
Shake it all you can
Rumba to the bottom (twist down)
Rumba to the top (twist back up)
Oh Rumba to the bottom
Rumba to the top
Rumba to the bottom until I holler STOP! (And cease all movement suddenly (I freeze and my kids would scream "again! again!" And away we'd go))
"The Little Old Man"
A little old man flew up in space (lift child high)
And he got ice cream all over his face! (Look surprised and point to your face or theirs)
So wash him with a washcloth (pretend to wash face, or really do it if in tub)
Roll him in a rug (turn a circle or spin child in tub)
And tuck him in a towel, until he's Snug, Snug, Snug! (Hug tightly or really take them out of tub and wrap in a towel!)
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Here are a few more that I do with Rachel/that I did with my classes back in the day:
"Motorboat, Motorboat"
Motorboat, motorboat go so slow (sing slow while spinning in a slow circle)
Motorboat, motorboat go so fast (sing faster while spinning in a faster circle)
Motorboat, motorboat, step on the gas! (sing/spin as fast as you "can," end by blowing bubbles)
"I'm a little pancake"
(to the tune of I'm a Little Teapot)
I'm a little pancake on my back (support child on back)
I'm a little pancake short and flat
I'm a little pancake on my back
Flip me over just like that (flip child over)
"The Wheels on the Bus"
I won't post the lyrics because I think most people know this song, but the actions are a lot of fun to do in the water, making little splashes.
Wheels go round and round
Wipers go swish, swish, swish
People go up and down...etc.
"Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed"
Again, I think everyone knows this song. I use the number of kids/tots in my class and either have them jump in the pool or have their mommies help them "jump" in the water by lifting them up and down.
"Fishy in the Basket"
Fishy in the basket! Fishy in the basket!
How are you going to get out? How are you going to get out?
(All the students hold hands, making a basket. One student gets to be the "fishy" in the "basket." While they are in the middle, everyone circles around singing the chant. When the chant is finished, the fish has to try to escape. With younger kids we lift up our arms. With older kids I have them swim under our arms.)
"Ring Around the Rosie"
Again, you should know the words. If not, I pity your childhood. I simply change the last line from "We all fall down!" to "We all blow bubbles!"
"Fun to do!"
Splashing your hands is fun to do!
Fun to do, to do, to do!
Splashing your hands is fun to do!
To do, to do, to do!
Replace "splashing your hands" with other fun actions like those found listed under "If you're happy and you know it."
"Once there was a Snowman"
Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman
Once there was a snowman, tall, tall, tall! (reach as high as you can/lift baby up)
In the sun he melted, melted, melted
In the sun he melted, small, small, small (get down as low as you can/lower baby)
"Open them, close them"
Open them (open hands)
Close them (close hands)
Open them (open hands)
Close them (close hands)
Give a little SPLASH! (splash)
Open them, close them, open them, close them
Put them in your lap (put hands under the water)
Creep them, crawl them, creep them, crawl them (slowly move hands up)
Right up to the sky! (reach up for the ceiling)
Now get back in the water!
We're here to swim, not fly!
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Hopefully you found that helpful, Anon! If you need/want more, I'm sure my sister and I can brainstorm about our swim-teaching days of yore and come up with some more. Also, if you do need any further explanation on tunes/lyrics, feel free to ask! Good luck with your Mom and Me class!
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
The Mother's Lounge
