Show an interest in number rhymes songs or games  

Recording of the song;

(for example on youtube)

Water spray;

Picture of a log and a pond with Velcro attached to the log and three bits of Velcro in the pond;

Three Velcro frogs

1. Give the child one frog at a time to place on the log.

2. You count the frogs.

3. Start playing the recording and do the actions to the rhyme.

4. Let the child move the frogs from the log into the pond at the correct part of the song and reward with a spray from the water spray.

Recording of the song; Visual prompt card (grid 2x3 on A4 with prompts for clap, stamp, nod, say "Ha ha" and do all 4).

1. Play the recording and/or sing the song.

2. Encourage the child to do the actions with a physical prompt, verbal prompt, in imitation or spontaneously as necessary.

Chair;

Large thick cardboard covered in glittery paper;

Water spray;

Talcum powder.

Optional: symbols for more/finished.

1. Sit the child on the chair and say:

2. John's in the garden

3. Blow wind, blow (waft with the cardboard),

4. Drip drop raindrops (spray with water) and down comes the snow (sprinkle in talc).

5. Encourage the child to request more or say finished at the end of the rhyme

Objects to represent number rhymes

1. Sit the child opposite you in a distraction free environment and sing a number rhyme e.g. '1,2,3,4,5 Once I caught a fish alive' or '5 little monkeys jumping on the bed' or '10 in the bed' etc.

2. Find an object to represent the number rhyme e.g. a fish for '1,2,3,4,5, once I caught a fish alive.' A monkey for 10 in the bed etc Show the child the objects. Can the child choose a song by choosing an object e.g. the monkey or the fish?

3. Sing the song with LOTS of animation and actions; pause sometimes so that the child can fill in a missing word or action.

4. Reward participation with tickles claps etc.

5. Make sessions last up to 5 minutes not longer. Finish with a good feeling.

Pictures for familiar rhymes

1. When the child is familiar with some rhymes draw simple pictures to represent two different rhymes.

2. Offer the child a choice of pictures and accept as making a choice the child reaching for a picture or looking at a picture or moving towards a picture. Say 'You want '1,2,3,4,5, 'etc and start to sing the rhyme and hold up /point to the relevant picture.

Laminated picture of a flying saucer and five men. Attach Velcro to the flying saucer and each of the five men.

1. Sing or play the song.

2. As the numbers decrease, children take off one man from the flying until no men are left.

3. The same activity can be replicated with songs such as five little ducks, five speckled frogs.