SongFinding Tools:
Rhythm & Routine Songs

The silliest song to gain attention of a group. Includes movements that can be little or bigger and opportunity for the silliest voices. Leader can sing and wait for group to all throw their eyes so that they can catch them, then lend their ears so they can borrow them. Get as silly as you want!

A song for tying shoes with bunny ears. Written to help an autistic family member who had an interest in animals and bunnies to learn to tie shoes. The rhythm, rhyme and intrinsic interest helped the learning process.

A simple ditty for potty time that changes the game. We focus on resetting before doing an activity so we don't have to pause something wonderful.

A song to cue kiddos to go slower. Best if introduced before requesting slow feet. Pair with ASL for turtle. Introduce with turtle book or story and practice being turtles. Made to pair with other animals for contrast, like….you guessed it! Bunnies!

A simple song for using umbrellas. Use big and little movements to show putting umbrellas up and down. Pair with "Splish, Splash", "Stormwater" or other water songs.

a playground song to remind kiddos to go up the steps and down the slide

An EverSong, or Multi-tool song, this song carries the main cue that we will move our body in a certain way , to a certain place. For example, "Hop to the line," "Tip-toe in the hall", etc. This song has also been modified to carry the same meaning, but with the idea that we place a body part on a thing, such as "hands to the bricks" when going outside and waiting for the group to gather. This is also a CodeVerb™ song, meaning that we can insert the group topic or interest as well as the intrinsic motivation of a child. CodeVerb is a concept I developed to help motivate some family members who have particular interests, especially my autistic child. This concept tends to come to mean a lot to folks who care for children who have particularly strong interests that are the key to motivating them. Using CodeVerbs in song, play, story and nature, can both motivate the child and provide an avenue for group participation while not "calling the child out" with their interest. It is a welcoming way to invite some children who may be less likely to engage into a group activity.

This is a little ditty about wanting for snow to come, and the things we can do to encourage the snow. Pair with sign language and action. Wait is a great sign to learn! Also encourage the idea that when we are waiting, we can be creative about how we use our time, and think of fun or even silly things to do.

A little bitty ditty so sing when getting into the car seat. Sing "Where's Red?" before clicking up, then the "There's Red" part after clicking up,. It helps to have a little routine when getting into the car seat. Interactions with a kiddo are a sweet moment and having a little routine can help to settle them, help them feel like they know what is going to happen, and help avoid car seat confrontations. This song can easily pair with the "One, Two, I'm going to buckle you" song I'll also share here as well as the "To get family car to go" ditty. Pair with ASL sign for "where" to help solidify the idea that we are looking for something. To add connection and special moment, use the as both a peek-a-boo game right after finding red with "Where's mommy" or "Where's teacher" or to find body parts, shoes, and other items in the car. This little game is great for growing language.

A song about wind blowing and something falling from a tree as a result. The trees change through the seasons, and we a talk about what is falling for each season. I like to use this song for seasonal celebrations, especially when a theme or book features a tree.

Just a little ditty about wiggling and to help get the wiggles and giggles out!

A song celebrating the winter season, highlighting the science part- shorter days, earth tilting, change, etc.