There’s a reason we remember children’s songs and skip rope chants long after we cease to be children. Children’s brains are more receptive to growth, and the music, rhythm, and joyful memories that accompany the words of a song or skip rope chant help to stamp the words into a child’s memory forever. That’s why we love to teach children at Primavera English, and it’s also why we incorporate learning activities beyond the strictly academic.
With one class of young learners, we’ve been practicing skip roping, and have been learning some English chants to go along with them. One of these is “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around.” While the teacher chants the words, the child acts out the motions while jumping in rhythm to the rope. The words go as follows:
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, climb up the stairs.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say your prayers.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn off the light.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say good night!
How many hours did he sleep?
One, two, three….
The child then jumps as many times as he or she can to signify how many hours the teddy bear slept, while the teacher turns the rope faster and faster.
Teach your child this chant, and they’ll never forget the English words for their nighttime routine!