Bouncy on my knee

These are usually played by bouncing child on both knees. The last line may include a change in gait or dropping child down between knees. Some babies like to be tipped upside down before starting over. The italicized word is where the change/drop occurs.

John Brown  (from Robert J.Aaberg)

John Brown when to town,

Riding a horse

Leading a hound

Hound dog barked

Horse jumped

Threw John Brown

over a stump.

Trit Trot To Boston  (from Lucy Zizka)

Trit trot to Boston, to find a piece of cake,

But when I got to Boston, there wasn’t any baked.

Said I to the baker-man, “What care I?”

So I hopped on my pony

And home did fly.

(bounce child on knees, on “hopped on my pony”  drop child down between knees,then “fly” back up onto lap)

Horsey

Horsey, horsey, horsey Horsey, horsey, horsey, Horsey, horsey, horsey, etc.

some families simply bounce their baby on one knee and simply repeat “horsey” over and over again...

This is the Way the Baby Rides #1 (from Robert J.Aaberg)

This is the way the baby rides,

Walkie, walkie, walkie, walk.  (knees slowly alternating)

This is the way the lady rides,

Trot, trot, trot, trot, trot, trot,trot. (knees gently bouncing in unison)

This is the way the gentleman rides,

Gallopty, gallopty, gallopty, gallop. (knees vigorously bouncing)

And this is the way the farmer rides,

Gallop! Gallop! Gallop! (pronounced Guh-loop)

        (rock back & forth, lifting feet completely off ground)

This is the Way the Baby Rides #2     (from Margie Orem)

This is the way the baby rides,

Tippety-top, tippety-top  (knees slowly alternating)

This is the way the lady rides,

Clippity-clop, clippity-clop  (knees gently bouncing)

This is the way the gentleman rides,

Thumpity-bump, thumpity-bump (knees vigorously bouncing)

And this is the way the farmer rides,

Hobbledy-hoy, hobledy-hoy

        (rock back & forth, lifting feet completely off ground)

The Cat’s In The Cupboard  (from Judy Thum)

Big A little a

Bouncing Bee,

The cat’s in the cupboard

And he can’t see me!

bounce child on one knee in time with the rhythm

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall  (lay down on bed or floor and sit  

        toddler on you raised knees, holding his hands)

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall (drop baby down between

    knees, or tip sideways so he falls. This is great fun on the bed!)

All the kings horses and all the kings men

    (rock baby back and forth between knees)

Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

    (Tickle baby’s tummy)

Off, off to Boston  from Mrs. Radosh

Off, off to Boston

Off, off to Lynn

Better watch out

or you might fall in!

Variations: (all provided from ones who grew up in Boston!)

    Trot, trot, to Boston.....  from Karen Zerlaut