Hello, Knees: The Song That Greets the Body
We sing a made-up song that greets each body part (“Hello, hello, knees, how are you?”) and that part answers by moving. It gently wakes up the body while working on rhythm and body-part names.
How to play
- Standing in a circle, the teacher sings to any simple tune: “Hello, hello, little hands, how are you? We're fine, we're fine, we're ready to move!” and the hands shake (1 min).
- We greet the shoulders, which go up and down, and the head, which nods yes and no slowly (1 min).
- We greet the tummy, which makes circles, and the knees, which bend like springs (1 min).
- We greet the feet, which march in place faster and faster (1 min).
- Last hello: “Hello, hello, whole body” and we all jump and turn around once (1 min).
Rules
- Only the part we greet gets to move.
- We sing all together in a happy voice.
- Everyone moves in their own spot in the circle.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, only hands, head, tummy and feet, with the teacher making each move big.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, add shoulders and knees.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, a child chooses which part we greet (elbows, ears, bottom) and shows how it answers.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: sing seated and greet the parts they can move; the legs answer with hand taps.
- Hearing impairment: point to each part before singing, and the teacher stands where everyone can see.
- Autism: always use the same tune and the same order every session.
Learning goals
- Wake up the body step by step.
- Name body parts while singing.
- Keep a simple beat with the group.
Teacher tip
Pick a very simple tune and keep it the same: by the third session they sing it on their own. If they speed up, lower your voice and start again slowly.
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