Children need to build their little muscles just as much as they need to build their big muscles. The muscles in the fingers are important and start to strengthen early on. When a baby grasps a rattle, he is using his finger muscles in his fist. When he picks up cheerios, he is using his pincer grasp. When he tears a page in a magazine, he is getting ready to cut with scissors. When he plays with play-doh or finger paints, he is preparing to hold crayons, pencils, and paint brushes.
Fingerplays and simple action rhymes are great for easy to learn rhymes that build vocabulary and language skills while building muscles.
Five Ripe Apples
Five ripe apples up in a tree,
(Hold five fingers up; make a tree with body and arms)
One looked down and smiled at me,
(look down and smile)
So I twisted that apple as hard as I could,
(stretch arm up high and twist hand)
Yum, Yum! It was good!
(“bite” apple and rub tummy)
Repeat verses and motions, counting down on your fingers:
2. Four ripe apples…
3. Three ripe apples…
4. Two ripe apples…
Last verse:
One last apple up in a tree,
It looked down and frowned at me,
(Make a frown)
I twisted that apple as hard as I could,
(stretch arm up high and twist hand)
Eeww! It was rotten!
(grimace at the “rotten apple” in hand)
Little Hands Fingerplays and Action Songs, by Emily Stetson and Vicky Congdon, Williamson Publishing, 2001.
To extend the learning and fun, read a book about apples and taste a variety of apples or applesauce to engage another sense. Here are two book ideas: The Story of Johnny Appleseed by Aliki and Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg.