Clocks go tick and clocks go tock.
Make your arms say _____ o’clock.
Clocks go tick and clocks go tock.
Clocks go tick and clocks go tock.
Clocks go tick and clocks go tock
Make your arms say ____ o’clock.
                        Betty Silkunas

Have your child move their hands like a clock as they sing this song.

AN OLD MAN
( Here is a more understandable version of “This Old Man”  for preschoolers)

An old man, he played one,
He tapped a bone on his drum
With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
Banging with his bone,
Then the man went strolling home.

Another man, he played two,
He tapped a bone on his shoe
With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
Banging with his bone,
Then the man went strolling home.

Another man, he played three,
He tapped a bone on his knee
With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
Banging with his bone,
Then the man went strolling home.

Another man, he played four,
He tapped a bone on his door
With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
Banging with his bone,
Then the man went strolling home.

Another man, he played five,
He tapped a bone on a hive.
With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
Banging with his bone,
The bees came out, so he ran home!
                        Adapted Traditional by Jean Warren

Have your children act out this fun number rhyme.
Make up additional verses if you like.

Five little peas in a pea pod pressed,     (Five children squat down in a row)
One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest.  (One at a time, children stretch their arms)
They grew and grew and did not stop,
Until at last, the pod did pop, 
One, two, three, four, five!  (Children pop up out of the pod, one at a time.)
               Adapted Traditional by Jean Warren
 

Grandma’s baked a cake for me.
See the candles, one, two, three.
I’ll put them out with one big blow
Ready, set, now here I go.
            Adapted Traditional by Jean Warren 

Five good friends - outside having fun
Until a mother called for one
To come and clean the floor.
Five minus one, that leaves four.

Four good friends – outside having fun
Until a mother called for one
To come and have some tea.
Four minus one, that leaves three.

Three good friends – outside having fun
Until a mother called for one
To come and find her shoe.
Three minus one, that leaves two.

Two good friends – outside having fun
Until a mother called for one
To come home, ‘til his chores were done.
Two minus one, that leaves one.

One good friend – outside all alone
She stopped playing and also went home.
Now no one is outside having fun.
Now the friends outside is zero or none!
                 Adapted Traditional by Jean Warren
 

Mary had a little lamb
It tried to count to ten
But when he got to five
1-2-3-4-5

 
FOUR LITTLE COMETS

Four little comets winking at me;
One shot off, then there were three.

Three little comets with nothing to do;
One shot off, then there were two.

Two little comets afraid of the sun;
One shot off, that left one.

One little comet, having no fun;
It shot off, then there were none.
                         Jean Warren
 

COUNTING FEET

How many boots should a puppy buy
To keep his feet nice and dry?
Let’s count his feet and then we’ll know –
I can count, watch me go!
One, two, three, four.
Four new boots is what she should buy –
That will keep the puppy dry!
                                    Adapted Traditional

Tune:  “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again”

The ants go marching one by one, hurray! hurray!
The ants go marching one by one, hurray! hurray!
The ants go marching one by one
Then they stop and play their drums.
Oh, we’re oh so glad that the ants could come today!

Continue with additional verses.

The ants go marching two by two –they all bend down and touch their shoe.
The ants go marching three by three – they all bend down and slap their knee.
The ants go marching four by four – they’re raising money for the poor.
                      Adapted Traditional by Jean Warren
 

HICKORY, DICKORY, DOCK
Hickory, dickory, dock
What time is on the clock?
The clock struck one
Time for fun.
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Continue with other hours on the clock.
            The clock struck two – Time to chew
            The clock struck three – Time for tea
            The clock struck four – Time for more
            The clock struck five – Time to come alive
            The clock struck six – Time to light the wick

Adapted Traditional by Jean Warren

 
TWO BLACKBIRDS
As you say this rhyme, show your child how to turn their two hands into two birds, by folding down their fingers and sticking out their thumbs.

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill,
(Turn hands into blackbirds)
One named Jack, the other named Jill.
(Wiggle thumbs or finger feathers as each name is mentioned)
Fly away, Jack! Fly away, Jill!
(Place one and then two hands behind their back.)
Come back, Jack! Come back, Jill!
(Bring birds back.)
 

ONE POTATO
One potato, two potato
Three potato, four,
Five potato, six potato
Seven potato, MORE!

You could turn this into a real learning experience by letting your children actually count potatoes as they recite this poem.

 
FIVE LITTLE PEAS
Five little peas in a pea pod pressed,
One grew, two grew, and so did all the rest.
They grew and grew and they did not stop,
Until all of a sudden the pod went POP!
 

Have your child pretend to do the actions as you recite the poem. Next, say the poem several times, leaving off the last word in each line for your child to finish.

Have your child curl up into a ball on the floor. Then slowly unfold and get into a crouching position. At last, have her pop up!