Finger plays Activity
Why do it?
Finger plays can:
- help toddlers build word skills
- help them learn to imitate
- help them match words with actions
- be a time of fun and sharing.
How to do it
Little, bigger, biggest
A little ball (make a ball with finger and thumb).
A bigger ball (make a ball with two hands).
And a great big ball (make a ball with arms).
Now help me count them — 1, 2, 3!
(Repeat gestures for each size.)
Row your boat
Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.
(Sit on the floor with your child, holding their
hands and rocking backward and forward.)
Using more te reo Māori
| Kōrero | Talk |
| Whakahuahua(tia) | Copy, mimic |
| Mahi-a-ringa | Hand actions |
| Whāngai kupu | Prompting |
| Me pēnei | Do it like this |
| Homai tō ringa | Give me your hand |
| He pōro iti | A little ball |
| He pōro nui | A big ball |
| He pōro nunui | A great big ball |
| Tahi, rua, toru | One, two, three |
| Ō ringaringa ki runga | Arms up |
| Hope! | Hands on your hips |
| He pai ki a koe tēnei waiata? | Do you like this song? |
| Ka rawe | Awesome |
| E noho kōnei ki te whāriki | Sit here on the mat |
| E peke | Jump up |
