Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Nursery Rhyme Action Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Ages 2 to 4
- ForAges 2 to 4
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Nursery Rhyme Action Cards is a free printable card set for Ages 2 to 4 in Early Years. Children sing a well known rhyme and do the action that goes with it. There are moves for rhymes such as Twinkle Twinkle, Wheels on the Bus and Incy Wincy Spider. It is screen free, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, cut out the cards from page 1 and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children look at a card, sing the rhyme and do the action. Each card pairs one rhyme with one simple move. For Twinkle Twinkle, hands open and close. For Row Your Boat, arms pull back and forth. For Humpty Dumpty, children wobble and fall. Grown ups sing along first, so young children can watch, copy and join in at their own pace.
- Twinkle Twinkle: open and close hands
- Wheels on the Bus: roll your arms
- Incy Wincy Spider: wiggle fingers up
- Row Your Boat: pull arms back and forth
- Humpty Dumpty: wobble and fall
- Baa Baa Black Sheep: nod your head
- Head, Shoulders, Knees: touch each part
- I'm a Little Teapot: tip to one side
- Jack and Jill: climb up high
How to use the cards
Pick a card
Spread the cards out and let your child choose one. Choosing gives a young child a sense of control and makes them more likely to join in.
Sing and move together
Sing the rhyme and do the action yourself first. Your child can copy you, or do their own version of the move.
Take turns
Swap roles. Your child picks a card and you do the action. Then sing it together again.
Make a rhyme time
Put a few favourite cards in a small pile and sing them in a row. Stop when your child loses interest. Short and happy works best.
Why rhymes and actions matter
Nursery rhymes are short songs with a strong rhythm and repeated words. Young children can learn them by hearing them again and again. Rhyme and rhythm help children notice the sounds inside words, which is useful later when they start to learn to read. Songs also give children a good reason to listen closely and to join in with a grown up.
Actions help too. When a child moves to the words, the meaning of the words becomes easier to see. Wiggling fingers or rolling arms makes a rhyme more fun to remember. Actions also let children who are not saying much yet take part with their bodies, so everyone can join in and feel part of the song.
Make sure there is clear space before you start. Some actions, such as the wobble and fall in Humpty Dumpty, are best done on a soft surface like a carpet. A grown up should stay close and keep the moves gentle.
Skills and curriculum link
- Listening
- Singing
- Moving
- Joining in with songs
- Copying actions
- Early speaking
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Expressive Arts and Design | Being Imaginative and Expressive | Ages 2 to 3 |
What children will be able to do
- I can join in with a nursery rhyme.
- I can do the actions that go with the words.
- I can move along to the song.
Ideas for helping your child
- Go slowlyYoung children need time to listen, watch and then copy. Sing at a gentle pace and pause between lines.
- Use your face and voiceSmile, look at your child and use a bright voice. This shows them that singing together is a happy thing to do.
- Repeat favouritesChildren love to hear the same rhyme again and again. Repetition helps them learn the words and the moves.
- Let them leadIf your child makes up a new move, copy it. Their ideas matter, and it keeps the activity playful.
Key words
- RhymeWords that end with the same sound, like cat and hat.
- ActionA move you make with your body.
- RhythmThe steady beat of a song. You can clap it.
- VerseOne part of a song or rhyme.
- Loud and quietTwo ways to sing. Loud is big and strong. Quiet is soft and gentle.
- Take turnsOne person goes, then the next person goes.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Cut out the cards from page 1. Keep page 2 for the grown up.
- Sit with your child and look at the cards together. Let them point to one they know.
- Sing the rhyme and do the action. Do it first yourself, then sing it together.
- Talk about what happened in the song. Ask which action was their favourite.
- Come back another day and pick new cards. Repeating a familiar rhyme builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Do the action with your child first, then sing slowly. Start with one card, such as Twinkle Twinkle, and repeat it until it feels easy. Hold your child's hands for the first go if they want help. Add a new card another day.
To stretch confident children
Let your child choose the next rhyme and lead the singing. Ask them to show you the action first, then sing it together. Older children in this age range can try singing a rhyme without the card and still do the move.
Make it a game
Sing quietly, then loudly, then in a funny voice. Do the same action each time. Or hide the cards face down, turn one over and sing whichever rhyme it shows. Take turns to pick the next card.
Talk about it
- Which rhyme is your favourite, and what are the actions?
- Can you show me what happens in this song?
- What do you do when the song gets faster?
- Can we sing it quietly, like a mouse?
- Can you think of a new action for this rhyme?
- Which rhyme should we sing next?
Take it off the page
Bath time songs
Sing one of the rhymes at bath time and do the actions with your hands. Wiggling fingers works well for Incy Wincy Spider.
Walk and sing
Sing a rhyme on a walk to the shops or park. Do the actions as you go, or save them for when you stop.
Teddy audience
Line up some soft toys as an audience. Your child sings and moves, and the toys watch and clap.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child and join in. Do not worry about singing well. Children love hearing your voice. Keep it short, stop while it is still fun, and try again another day.
Teachers
Use the cards as a circle time starter, a transition activity or a calm moment between tasks. Pass a card round the circle, or let a child choose. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out.
Home educators
Keep the cards in a small bag or envelope and bring them out at different times of day. They fit easily into a morning routine, a car journey or a quiet moment. Younger and older brothers and sisters can join in together.
Where this fits
Before this, children listen to songs, babble along and copy simple movements such as clapping. Joining in with familiar songs is a natural next step as they begin to understand more words and gain control of their hands and arms.
After this, children can learn longer rhymes and songs, clap rhythms, play with finger rhymes and begin to notice rhyming words. These all build the listening and speaking skills that help later with early reading.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Which rhyme is your favourite, and what are the actions?
- Can you show me what happens in this song?
- What do you do when the song gets faster?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age are Nursery Rhyme Action Cards for?
They are written for Ages 2 to 4 in Early Years. Younger children can watch and copy a grown up, while older children can lead the singing and choose the cards themselves.
- What will children practise?
Children practise listening, singing and moving. They join in with songs and move along to the words, which supports early speaking and body control in a playful way.
- Do I need to sing well?
No. Children care much more that you join in than how you sound. A simple, steady, happy voice is all you need, and it helps your child feel safe to try.
- What if it feels too hard?
Do the action with your child first, then sing slowly. Start with just one familiar card and repeat it. You can add another card on a different day when your child is ready.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or a new group of children.
- Is it a screen free activity?
Yes. It is a printable card set with no devices needed, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days, school holidays or a calm moment before bed.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a circle time starter or transition activity, and home educators can use it alone or as part of a wider plan. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.