Ride-o, ride-o, ride-o
Once upon a time, it was a common sight to see parents bouncing, dandling or dinking babies on their knee to songs and chants that had been passed down through the generations. These days, it is far more common to see parents handing their child a phone or iPad if they start to get wriggly, grizzly or bored.
But kids LOVE being bounced on your knee and adding a few knee bounces to your repertoire will not only bring you great joy together but may just save your sanity when you get stuck in a waiting room and your device goes flat!
Ride-o
“Ride-o, ride-o, ride-o
Upon your horse astride-o
Which way shall we ride-o?
To the countryside-o
To find a pretty bride-o”
Try out all sorts of different ways to 'ride'... facing forwards, facing backwards, facing sideways, even upside down!
To market, to market
“To market, to market to buy a fat pig
Home again, home again, jiggity jig
To market, to market to buy a fat hog
Home again, home again, jiggity jog
To market, to market to buy a plum bun
Home again, home again, market is done”
Come up with some new verses... what else could you buy at the market?
Here come three kings
“Here come three kings a riding
A riding, a riding
Here come three kings a riding
With a rancy tancy tiddy-i-o”
We made all sorts of different 'crowns' for the kings in this knee bounce but two hands and some imagination work just as well!
Ride a cock horse
“Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross
To see a fine lady upon a white horse
With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes
She shall have music wherever she goes”
Bouncing techniques
Young babies
- Sit with legs stretched straight out in front. Lay baby on upper legs. Gently raise and lower knees.
- When sitting in a chair, lay baby on upper legs and gently raise and lower heels.
- Lay on back with knees brought up to chest. Lay baby's tummy on your lower legs with head facing your face. Gently raise and lower legs.
Older babies and toddlers
- Sit on the floor with legs crossed and have child sit on your knee. Allow child's feet to touch the floor.
- Sit with legs stretched straight out in front. Have child sit on your legs facing you. Raise and lower knees.
- Sit in a chair with one leg over the other. Have child sit on your foot. Raise and lower your foot.
