Looking for a rhyme that’s fun for your preschool child and your baby? “The Grand Old Duke of York” works for all ages. When you lift the baby up and down, she adds these concepts to her vocabulary. Moving with the rhyme allows your preschooler to work on his gross motor skills. Change the speed and see how fast or slow you can move up and down. Be prepared for plenty of giggles.
The Grand Old Duke of York
The Grand Old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men.
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.
And when you’re up, you’re up,
And when you’re down, you’re down.
And when you’re only halfway up,
You’re neither up nor down.
Bounce baby up and down on your knees. Raise knees up when marching up and lower knees when marching down. Quickly go up and down with the last line. Or you could hold the baby as you march in place, squat down, and stand up tall. Older children can march in place and move their bodies up and down as you say the words “up” and “down.”