Action songs: how the skill grows from 12 to 36 months
Action songs: songs and rhymes with actions such as clapping, wiggling, waving and touching body parts. They bundle music, movement, turn-taking and words into a game that works anywhere, with no materials.
Updated
Action songs: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Does one action. Claps or waves at the right moment in a favorite song.
Activities that fit this step
- Scarf Float Up-and-Down Song · 13–22 months · 3–8 min
- Cleanup Song Bucket Drop · 14–22 months · 3–8 min
- Sleepy Fingers Wind-Down Rhyme · 16–28 months · 2–5 min
Next step: Does several actions. Does the actions for a whole short verse with you.
Activities that fit this step
- Cleanup Song Bucket Drop · 14–22 months · 3–8 min
- Sleepy Fingers Wind-Down Rhyme · 16–28 months · 2–5 min
- Blanket Wave Teddy Bounce · 17–28 months · 5–10 min
Next step: Fills in a word. Sings or shouts the last word of a line when you pause.
Activities that fit this step
- Blanket Wave Teddy Bounce · 17–28 months · 5–10 min
- Big Kid Leads the Mirror Dance · 18–30 months · 5–10 min
- Finish-the-Song Pause · 18–30 months · 3–8 min
Next step: Leads the song. Starts the song and the actions without you.
Activities that fit this step
- Big Kid Leads the Mirror Dance · 18–30 months · 5–10 min
- Finish-the-Song Pause · 18–30 months · 3–8 min
- Scarf Copycat Dance · 19–28 months · 5–10 min
Top of the ladder (leads the song). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Finish-the-Song Pause · 18–30 months · 3–8 min
- Scarf Copycat Dance · 19–28 months · 5–10 min
- Animal Moves Action Song · 24–34 months · 5–10 min
The action songs ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 12 to 36 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
-
Watches and smiles
Watches your face and hands closely while you sing and act.
-
Does one action
Claps or waves at the right moment in a favorite song.
-
Does several actions
Does the actions for a whole short verse with you.
-
Fills in a word
Sings or shouts the last word of a line when you pause.
-
Leads the song
Starts the song and the actions without you.
When action songs usually shows up
Joining in simple games such as clapping rhymes is a CDC 12-month milestone. Doing one or two actions of a familiar song comes next, and filling in words or singing along usually appears in the third year.
This page follows action songs from 12 to 36 months, a window that spans the 12-month, 15-month, 18-month, 24-month, 30-month and 36-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 8 activities practise action songs (4 as their main skill), for ages 13 to 34 months. 5 of them need no prep and take 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 2, 3 and 4 of the 5-step ladder, most (5) on “Does several actions”.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 12 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve action songs. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 12 months | Joins in simple games with you, such as clapping rhymes. |
Activities that practise action songs
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 4 creativity & pretend, 1 cognitive, 1 language, 1 practical life and 1 social-emotional. Quickest to start: Sleepy Fingers Wind-Down Rhyme (2–5 minutes).
Step 2: Does one action
Step 3: Does several actions
Step 4: Fills in a word
Skills practised alongside
The activities for action songs most often also work on imitating actions (5), spatial words (2), calming with help (1), conversation turns (1) and copying other children (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Repeat the same few songs often; familiarity is what lets a child join in.
- Slow down and pause right before the big action so your child can do it first.
- Use one song for each transition: tidying up, getting in the bath, putting on shoes.
What to avoid
- Swapping singing together for songs on a screen; the back-and-forth with you is the point.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
If by 12 months your child shows no interest in clapping games or action rhymes with you, or later stops joining in songs they used to love, mention it at the checkup.
Worried about action songs between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start action songs?
Joining in simple games such as clapping rhymes is a CDC 12-month milestone. Doing one or two actions of a familiar song comes next, and filling in words or singing along usually appears in the third year. The first step to look for: watches your face and hands closely while you sing and act.
How can I help my toddler with action songs?
Repeat the same few songs often; familiarity is what lets a child join in. Slow down and pause right before the big action so your child can do it first. A good first activity is Scarf Float Up-and-Down Song (13–22 months).
What should I avoid when practising action songs?
Swapping singing together for songs on a screen; the back-and-forth with you is the point.
When should I mention action songs to the pediatrician?
If by 12 months your child shows no interest in clapping games or action rhymes with you, or later stops joining in songs they used to love, mention it at the checkup. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.