This is the perfect song to encourage pretend play. In Going on a Bear Hunt children envision the path you lay out for them. They pretend to swish through a field of grass, swim through a river, climb a tree or mountain, and enter a cave where they find a BEAR!

In the initial stages of pretend play children benefit from incorporating as much reality into their play as possible. Sammi loved to change diapers. Initially she insisted on using actual diapers and wipe on her babies. We went through a lot of diapers and wipes. One afternoon I counted 15 rolled diapers on the floor that she had used on her baby! Slowly she transitioned into using pretend wipes and finally pretend diapers.

The same principle applies here with Going on a Bear Hunt. You lead the adventure and model the actions that accompany each part of the song. Your child then sees a slice of the reality and is able to envision the pretend adventure of hunting for bears.

Going on a Bear Hunt
We’re going on a bear hunt
We’re gonna catch a big one
But we’re not scared!
Oh no, a large field of grass.
We can’t go over it
We can’t go under it
We’ll have to go through it
Swish swish swish

We’re going on a bear hunt
We’re gonna catch a big one
But we’re not scared!
Oh no, a river.
We can’t go under it
We can’t go around it
We’ll have to swim through it
Swim swim swim

We’re going on a bear hunt
We’re gonna catch a big one
But we’re not scared!
Oh no, a tree (or mountain)
We can’t go around it
We can’t go through it
We’ll have to climb up it
Climb climb climb
Down down down

We’re going on a bear hunt
We’re gonna catch a big one
But we’re not scared!
Oh no, a cave.
We can’t go over it
We can’t go under it
We’ll have to go in it
Tiptoe tiptoe

I see a shiny nose and two eyes
It’s a bear!
Run out of the cave
Run run run
Climb up the tree (mountain)
Climb down the tree (mountain)
Run run run
Swim through the river
Run run run
Run through the grass
Run run run
Open the door
Shut the door
Run upstairs and
Jump in bed
We’re safe!

We received this adorable board book for Christmas that tells the story of a family going on a bear hunt and making it safely home. I love the illustrations and the additional verses.

After hearing this song for the first time, I realized I needed an online resource where I could go listen again and again to new songs. It’s part of what’s inspired this blog! This is one of Sammi’s favorites. We learned it at the library during laptime. She was barely a year old and she’d do the actions just well enough that I knew what song she wanted. I was so frustrated at first because I couldn’t remember the tune or all the words. Every time we went to the library I hoped that the teller would sing it again. After a several weeks I had heard it enough that I could finally sing it at home with Sammi. She was so happy.

Actions to songs are great for pre-speakers. Through the actions they are able to communicate their thoughts and wishes before they are able to tell us with words. Sometimes it takes more attention and practice to understand what our children want when they can’t just say it, but it’s worth the time to reinforce familiar actions with specific outcomes.

In the same vein, many people chose to teach their children simple sign language as a way to communicate before spoken words appear. Here are a couple of great sites for using signs with your baby: Signing Time and Sign Babies.

Will you stand up and let me see your smile? This line from the Welcome Song gets my toddler moving and grinning every time! No matter where we are, how close to a meltdown she is or how uncooperative she’s being, if I start singing this tune, she jumps up, runs around smiling and becomes rather compliant. While not the purpose of the song, it is a much appreciated benefit.

We were first introduced to this song at a play group. All the children sit in a circle. The leader begins with one child, using their name, to start the song. For example, “Sammi, will you stand up and let us see your smile?” The child stands up and shows their smile to the group. After the verse is over, the leader moves to the next child in the circle and so on until all of the children have had a turn. It’s a great way to help all the children (and most parents, too) remember or learn the names of all the children in the play group. I really like it because it involves all the children. New children aren’t singled out, which can be uncomfortable for some, and returning children aren’t left out, which doesn’t sit well with some (mine, in particular!)

The group of children Sammi usually sings this with have developed their own tradition around the song. When it is a child’s turn, tha child not only stands up and smiles, but also runs around the circle trying to return to their original spot before their turn is over. In the video you’ll notice Sammi take off and then return. Enjoy the video. The words follow.

Welcome Song
Name, will you stand up
and let us see your smile?
We’re glad you’re here today,
won’t you stay awhile.

When to sing the Welcome Song

• At the beginning of a play group
• At home with all your stuffed animals and dolls each taking a turn
• When you need your child to stand up and they are not cooperating
• Anytime you need to calm or distract a frustrated child

Don’t forget to include yourself in the song! You deserve a chance to smile and run around the room, too. The melody of this song is so upbeat and bright that it almost instantly dispels any dark moods in our house. Let it works its magic in yours.

Bumpin’ Up and Down in My Little Red Wagon is a fun, energetic song. It’s great for when kids are restless or if they are falling asleep when you really want them to be awake (how often does THAT happen?) It takes a lot of energy on your part, so prepare yourself! I’ve never been able to do this just once with my daughter. She always asks to do it again…and again!

This video is a bit longer because it includes several variations, including with a baby. Here are the words to the song:
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon
Bumpin’ up and down in my little red wagon
Won’t you be my darlin’

One wheel’s off and the wagon’s draggin’
One wheel’s off and the wagon’s draggin’
One wheel’s off and the wagon’s draggin’
Won’t you be my darlin’

Other wheel’s off and the wagon’s draggin’
Other wheel’s off and the wagon’s draggin’
Other wheel’s off and the wagon’s draggin’
Won’t you be my darlin’

If you get tired of singing this song, consider these versions available on iTunes:

• By Raffi
• By Barney
• By Kidsongs Kids
• By Bob McGrath & Katharine Smithrim