What is a Fingerplay?

It is a must that every early childhood educator spends time learning and memorizing a wide variety of fingerplays.

A fingerplay is a short poem or rhyme

that is either spoken or sung and involves

the use of hands and fingers to help "act" it all out.

What is the purpose of a fingerplay?

Fingerplays serve a variety of purposes...

• They help capture a young child's attention;

• They engage the child in the learning process;

• They promote the young child's imagination and creativity;

• They increase a young child's language, vocabulary, and listening skills;

• They involve and promote the development of fine motor skills;

• They help the teacher give directions and instruction.

• They provide entertainment for down time.



An example of a fingerplay

Way up high in the Apple Tree (Point finger up)

Five red apples smiled at me. (Hold up five fingers)

I shook that tree as hard as I could, (Clasp hands together and shake back and forth)

Down fell an apple, mmm it was good. (Rub tummy with both hands)

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Copyright © 2009 Deborah J. Stewart, All Rights Reserved!