Story Mix for Three to Six: Silly Songs and Stories

Our silly song about "ants in your pants" will definitely put a smile and a laugh on everyone's' faces!  Children love to move their feet and arms by dancing, jumping and marching.  Clapping, tapping and bouncing to rhythms allows children to also hear syllables and improves motor skills, as well as connect words with movements. 

Reading together is an important activity to do too because as children hear and see the words, they develop essential early literacy skills.  Make sure you check out the books in our list below for stories about silly kids and dogs. 

There Are Ants in My Pants Song (sung to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell)

There are ants in my pants!
There are ants in my pants!
Oh no, what should I do?
There are ants in my pants!
   
Perhaps I should dance
Perhaps I should dance
That is what I should do
Perhaps I should dance.

There are ants in my pants!
There are ants in my pants!
Oh no, what should I do?
There are ants in my pants!
   
Perhaps I should jump
Perhaps I should jump
That is what I should do
Perhaps I should jump.

Repeat the song using other motions such as twisting, marching or stretching. 
 
Take a look at these stories we read at Story Mix:

“Time To Paint, Biscuit!” in Biscuit Storybook Collection by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
A collection of ten previously published stories featuring Biscuit, a small and mischievous yellow dog.
Check catalog availability

Oh, Were They Ever Happy by Peter Spier
One Saturday morning while their parents are away, the three Noonan children decide to paint the house.
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Are You Sleepy Yet, Petey?  by Marie Hodge
Petey the puppy doesn't want to go to bed at bedtime. How will his little boy make sure Petey gets enough sleep?
Check catalog availability

Wonderful Ones: Laugh Out Loud

Laugh out loud with your baby!  Babies love to move their bodies by dancing, hopping, bopping and being silly.  Wiggling your fingers and toes together is not only fun, but the movements and actions help baby connect words with their meanings in addition to improving motor skills.  Bending, stretching, and bouncing to rhythms allows babies to also hear syllables and sounds which allows for learning new words and speech.


Wiggle, Wiggle Fingers
Wiggle, wiggle fingers
Wiggle, wiggle fingers,
Right up to the sky,
Way up high.

Wiggle, wiggle fingers,
Wave them all goodbye.

Wiggle, wiggle fingers,
Right into a ball,
Now throw them on your lap,
But do not let them fall.

Stretching Fun
I stretch and stretch and find it fun,
To try to reach up to the sun.
I bend and bend to touch the ground,
Then I twist and twist around.

I stretch and stretch and find it fun,
To try to reach up to the sun.
I bend and bend to touch the ground,
Then I twist and twist around.

Where is Baby? (sung to the tune of Frere Jacques)
Where is baby?  Where is baby?
There he is!  There he is!
I’m so glad to see you.
I’m so glad to see you.
Peek-a-boo!
Peek-a-boo!

Where is baby?  Where is baby?
There he is!  There he is!
I’m so glad to see you.
I’m so glad to see you.
Peek-a-boo!
Peek-a-boo!


Books to read and share laughs with together:

Wiggle by Doreen Cronin
Rhyming text describes the many ways to wiggle.
Check catalog availability

Tickle, Tickle by Helen Oxenbury
A toddler has fun in the bathtub while getting clean.
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Animal Kisses by Barney Saltzberg
Introduces words which name textures associated with various animal kisses, such as scratchy cat kisses, velvety cow kisses, and rubbery fish kisses.
Check catalog availability