Ten signals
- Tidy up: ring a bell once, then hum “London Bridge Is Falling Down” until the toys are away.
- Line up: “The Grand Old Duke of York”, marching to the door.
- Wash hands: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”, twice through while scrubbing.
- Come to the rug: a clap pattern (clap, clap, pause, clap) the children echo.
- Quiet: a hand in the air; everyone who sees it raises theirs.
- Snack: “Polly Put the Kettle On”.
- Rest: “Brahms' Lullaby” or “All Through the Night”, hummed.
- Waiting: “This Little Piggy” on fingers while the line is slow.
- Outside: “Ring Around the Rosie” to make a circle at the door.
- Goodbye: the hello song from circle time, with goodbye in it.
The words of each rhyme are on Peabody's nursery rhymes with lyrics and lullabies with lyrics lists.
One signal, one job
If the tidy-up song also means “sit down” and “be quiet”, it soon means nothing. Pick one signal for each transition and use it the same way every day.
Try this Give a warning first: “Two more minutes, then the tidy-up song.” Most transition trouble is surprise.