Who Ate the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?
Music and movement activities are an important part of any early childhood program. Music and movement activities are fun for everyone, both children and adults alike.
Who, When, and Where
Children care less about your musical talent than they do about your enthusiasm and willingness to sing, move, and play along with them. As a result, anyone, regardless of musical talent, can sing, dance, and guide children through music and movement activities.
Music and movement activities can happen anywhere, anytime. As a matter of fact, these activities can take place in the home or center, on the playground, or during transitions and other daily routines. You don’t always have to go to the music room or wait for “music time.” Music and movement time is all the time!
The National Association for Music Education
The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) explains that in early childhood, music education is mainly about introducing children to a variety of musical experiences. It is important to note that early childhood music education is about supporting every child’s capacity for music learning.
It is not about teaching them how to play instruments correctly or preparing them for performances. As we noted before, you do not need any special musical talent or ability to provide meaningful musical learning opportunities.
Helping New Children Feel Welcome
“Who Ate the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?” is a fun activity to use with new children (particularly preschoolers) when they join your program. This activity focuses on listening and learning names, and as a result is an excellent way to help a new child feel included. Additionally, children who are already in your program will quickly learn the new child’s name in a fun and engaging way.
Activity: Who Ate the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?
For this activity choose a place where the children can gather in a circle. Additionally, you may want to provide an empty cookie jar as a prop.
All: Who ate the cookie from the cookie jar?
(Child Named) ate the cookie from the cookie jar.
Child Named: Who, me?
Group: Yes, you!
Child Named: Couldn’t be!
Group: Then who?
(Child Named selects another child, and the game repeats in an endless loop as long as desired.)
Try out these ideas to expand learning:
1. Ask the children who likes cookies. Discuss their favorite kinds of cookies and on what occasions they eat them.
2. Ask the children what shape each type of cookie is. Ask them to sit in those shapes.
3. To get started, you may want to do an activity to select the first “child named” for the first round, or you may just want to call upon a particular child. Afterwards, if using an empty cookie jar, introduce it and ask the children what should be in there, and who they think took the cookies! Then, pick the person you think ate the cookies as the first “child named.”
4. Older children may be able to incorporate a body percussion pattern (“pat knees, pat knees, clap, clap”) on steady beats.
Share Your Music and Movement Activities!
Share in the comments below what songs and music and movement activities you have used with the children in your care. Try the “Who Ate the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?” activity above and let us know how it goes!
Care Courses’ Music and Movement Course
Looking for more music and movement activities? Take our course Music and Movement!
Created for all types of childcare facilities and homes, this course will help you understand the importance of creating, listening to, and moving to music during early childhood. This course includes music and movement activities that are appropriate for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, including those with special needs.
Additionally, you will learn how to include the children’s families and cultures in meaningful ways, and discover the many educational, social-emotional, and physical benefits of incorporating music and movement into your program.
Care Courses Support Team
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