Parachute Songs

On Saturday we took JG to his regular Gymboree class where he always has lots of fun! During the "parachute play" portion of his class (something JG absolutely loves) the instructor often performs a lap song or two ("Grand Olde Duke of York" etc...) using a large, stuffed "Gimbo the clown" puppet. JG is usually much too energetic and excited to sit on our laps during any portion of his gym class; he prefers to dance and move around instead. However, on this particular Saturday, JG caught the attention of all the other parents when he approached the instructor during laptime and proceeded to give "Gimbo" a loving hug! I wish I had a camera to capture the moment.


The Grand Olde Duke of York (with parent/child actions)

He had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again.

And when they were up they were up
and when they were down they were down
and when they were only half way up
They were neither up nor down

He marched them to the left
He marched them to the right
And then he marched them upside down
Oh, what a silly sight.

Movements
Sit with the child in your lap. Bounce your knees to simulate movement.
He marched them up - Slowly raise your knees to simulate marching uphill
Marched them down - slowly lower your knees to simulate marching downhill
When they were up - Quickly raise your knees
When they were down - Quickly lower your knees
When they were only half way - Set you knees at a height half way between all the way up and all the way down.
Marched them to the left - Lean your child to the left
Marched them to the right - Lean your child to the right.
Marched them upside down - hold your child upside down over your knees ( don't drop them ! ), then put them back in your lap

JG'S favorite part of parachute play is when we fly the colourful chute into the air and crawl under it creating a domed house. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is a popular song to sing while under the parachute and so are the following rhymes....

Red and Yellow, Green and Blue (sung to the tune "twinkle, twinkle, little star")

Red and yellow, green and blue
These are colours over you
Red like an apple
Green like a tree
Yellow like the sun
And blue like the sea
Red and yellow, green and blue
These are colours over you


Come Under My Umbrella

Come under my umbrella,
Umbrella, umbrella
Come under my umbrella
It’s starting to storm
With thunder and lightning
And wind and rain
Come under my umbrella
It’s starting to storm