Nursery Rhymes for Toddlers (1-2 Years)
Ages 1-2 years
Between one and two, children go from watching to joining in. They can clap, stamp, bounce and wave, they love doing the same thing over and over, and they will often fill in the last word of a line before they can sing the whole verse. Action rhymes suit this stage perfectly because they turn a song into a game the whole body can play.
Start with big, clear movements and keep the actions the same every time so your toddler can learn to predict them. Songs like Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes teach body words while they move, If You're Happy and You Know It builds simple instruction-following, and repetitive favourites such as Old MacDonald Had a Farm invite them to chime in with the animal sounds.
Do not worry if your toddler is half a beat behind or only joins the bits they like. Copying, repeating and moving in time are exactly the skills these rhymes build. Slow down, exaggerate the actions, and be ready to sing the same one five times in a row.
If You're Happy and You Know It
Clap, stamp and cheer on cue, a first taste of following simple instructions.
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Touch each body part as you name it; toddlers love the speed-ups and learn body words too.
Wind the Bobbin Up
Roll the hands, pull and point; the actions are big and forgiving for wobbly coordination.
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Sit facing your toddler, hold hands and rock back and forth like rowing.
The Wheels on the Bus
Round-and-round arms, beeping horns and swishing wipers keep every verse busy.
Open, Shut Them
Open and close the hands, then creep them up to the chin; slow, repeatable hand play.
I'm a Little Teapot
Strike the teapot pose and tip over to pour, a whole-body action they can copy.
Clap Hands
Pure clapping to a simple beat, one of the easiest first action rhymes.
Pat-a-Cake
Clap, roll and pat; now old enough, they can do the actions themselves.
Ring a Ring o' Roses
Hold hands, circle round and flop down on "we all fall down", a first group game.
Sleeping Bunnies
Curl up still, then spring up and hop; the pause-and-go format suits busy toddlers.
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Turn around, touch the ground and reach up high, one instruction at a time.
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
Short, familiar and full of repetition, easy for a toddler to chime in on the last word.
Old MacDonald Had a Farm
The repeating animal sounds invite toddlers to fill in the moos and quacks.
Where to Go Next
- Nursery Rhymes for Babies (0-12 Months): gentler lullabies and touch games for the first year.
- Preschool Circle Time Rhymes (3-5 Years): counting and group games for when they are ready to take turns.
- Action Rhymes & Movement Songs: more songs built around clapping, jumping and dancing.
- Counting Rhymes & Number Songs: simple number songs for when they start to count.