Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes Speed-Up
Kids touch head, shoulders, knees and toes to the traditional song, first slowly, then faster. It reviews body parts and wakes up the whole body.
How to play
- Standing in personal space, the teacher points to each body part and names it (1 min).
- Sing very slowly touching each part, including eyes, ears, mouth and nose (1 min).
- Repeat at regular speed (1 min).
- Speed up twice—can your hands keep up? (2 min).
- Final round in silence: only hands move while we sing inside our heads (1 min).
Rules
- Stay in your own spot with room to bend down.
- Touch gently.
- If you get lost, jump back in at the next body part.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, only head, shoulders, knees and toes, slow tempo.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add eyes, ears, mouth and nose and two speeds.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, drop one word each round (first "head") and just touch it silently.
Adaptations
- Children who can't bend down can sit and reach toward knees and toes as far as comfortable.
- For blind or low-vision children, guide their hands at first, then call each part a beat early.
- For autistic children, show a picture strip of the parts in order.
Learning goals
- Name and locate body parts.
- Coordinate movement with singing at different speeds.
- Warm up legs and back by bending and stretching.
Teacher tip
When speeding up, kids stop bending their knees—remind them before each round. The silent version always gets giggles.
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