I took a lick
Of a peppermint stick
And, oh, it tasted yummy!

It used to be
On the Christmas tree,
But now it’s in my tummy!

The post Peppermint Stick appeared first on Laptime Songs.

5 little candy canes hanging on the door.
Santa ate one and then there were 4.

4 little candy canes hanging on the tree.
Mrs. Claus ate one and then there were 3.

3 little candy canes lying by a shoe.
An elf ate one and then there were 2.

2 little candy canes lying in the sun.
A reindeer ate one and then there was 1.

1 little candy cane by the chimney.
Santa put it in his bag and brought it to me!

The post 5 Little Candy Canes appeared first on Laptime Songs.

The bells on the sleigh go
ring, ring, ring
ring, ring, ring
ring, ring, ring
The bells on the sleigh go
ring, ring, ring
All through the sky!

The reindeer with the sleigh
Fly way up high,
Fly way up high,
Fly way up high
The reindeer with the sleigh
Fly way up high
All through the sky!

Additional verses:
The snow on the sleigh falls gently down
The driver on the sleigh says “Ho, ho ho!”

The post The Bells on the Sleigh appeared first on Laptime Songs.

We wish you a Merry Christmas!
We wish you a Merry Christmas!
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year!

Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
Good tidings for Christmas
And a Happy New Year!

Now bring us some figgy pudding!
Now bring us some figgy pudding!
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
And a cup of good cheer!

We won’t go until we get some!
We won’t go until we get some!
We won’t go until we get some,
So bring it out here!

Want to make this an action song for toddlers and preschoolers? Check out “We Wish You a Merry Christmas Action Song.”

The post We Wish You a Merry Christmas Traditional appeared first on Laptime Songs.

We wish you a Merry Christmas!
We wish you a Merry Christmas!
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year!

Now let’s all do a little clapping!
Now let’s all do a little clapping!
Now let’s all do a little clapping,
And spread Christmas cheer!

Additional verses:
Now let’s all do a little jumping!
Now let’s all do a little hopping!
Now let’s all do a little whirling!
Now let’s all do a little dancing!
Now let’s all do a little stretching!
Now let’s all do a little waving!

The post We Wish You a Merry Christmas appeared first on Laptime Songs.

I’m a little Santa, short and fat
Here is my beard and here is my sack.
On Christmas Eve I hop in my sleigh
With a “Ho, ho, ho” I’m on my way!

The post I’m a Little Santa appeared first on Laptime Songs.

Snowflakes, snowflakes
In the air
Snowflakes, snowflakes
Everywhere
Snowflakes, snowflakes
Dance around
Snowflakes, snowflakes
Touch the ground

This rhyme is done in the style of Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear and works great with a winter or snow theme.

The post Snowflakes, Snowflakes appeared first on Laptime Songs.

Ring, ring, ring the bells
Ring them loud and clear!
Tell the children everywhere
That Christmas time is here!

The post Ring the Bells appeared first on Laptime Songs.

(Tune: London Bridge is Falling Down“)

Head, thorax, abdomen
Abdomen
Abdomen
Head, thorax, abdomen
6 legs on an insect!

The post Insect Song appeared first on Laptime Songs.

I’ve heard countless stories of parents abandoning bedtime plans because their child doesn’t appear tired and so they let them play in an effort to wear the child out to be ready for bedtime. But it could take hours for the child to behave in a way that looks tired to an adult.

The scenario is usually something along these lines: It’s the end of a busy day full of playing and yet, their little one seems more wound up and full of energy than should be possible. The crazy activity of little ones at bedtime is mind boggling. I call it tired energy! When little ones get tired, they are less able to regulate their behaviors and control their impulses. As their tiredness increases, their behavior seems to spiral out of control.

Calm the Chaos

So what help can we provide frazzled parents who come looking for resources to smooth out bedtime? Books and songs have always come at the end of our bedtime routine, sort of like a reward for getting through the mundane. At one point, though, I started using poems to help my own children move from chaos to calm during the mundane part of the bedtime routine. I’d choose whichever poem came to mind or seemed to relate to what we’d done during the day. Instead of nagging to please come back to the bathroom with that tooth brush! I’d just recite a poem. The rhyming and the rhythm of bedtime poems naturally draws children’s attention in. Some nights I’d just repeat the same rhyme a few times adding in tickles or silly faces. Other nights we’d run through all the poems I could think of.

Let’s help parents build their arsenal of bedtime poems to help them calm the chaos of tired energy. These 10 bedtime poems are a great start. They are found in the Mother Goose Treasury. Often, after we were done and ready to read, we’d find the poems we recited together in the book and read them one more time. The illustrations are so beautiful in the Mother Goose Treasury published by Parragon. It’s a great way to transition into the reading portion of any bedtime routine.

10 Bedtime Poems

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Hey Diddle, Diddle

Golden Slumbers

Now the Day is Over

Lavender’s Blue

Star Light, Star Bright

Go To Bed Late

Bedtime

Wee Willie Winkie

Free Bedtime Poems Printable

Instructions: Print this sheet of bedtime poem cards on sturdy paper. Cut out the cards. Laminate if desired. Share with parents.

Suggested uses for parents: Keep cards in the bathroom or on your little one’s dresser. Choose a poem to focus on each night or each week. Recite the poem during your bedtime routine to help your little one stay focused on getting ready for bed.

The post 10 Bedtime Poems Free Printable appeared first on Laptime Songs.