Softly, gently, firmly, strongly – songs can encourage the gentle use of touch

What to try 

1. Sit your toddler on your knee facing you, or sit close to them.
2. Sing this song, telling your toddler the rain is falling softly. As you sing, make a gentle pitter patter motion with your fingers on the body part you are singing about.
3. When you sing, “It’s raining again,” gently pitter-patter your fingers from your toddler’s head, down their body.
4. When you sing, “Drip drop,” press one finger sporadically on different parts of their body.
5. You can repeat the song and say to your toddler that the rain is falling more heavily, this time make your pitter patter actions firmer.

Here are the lyrics:

"On my head, tickly rain, 

On my shoulders, tickly rain,

On my back, tickly rain, 

It’s raining again,

On my arms, tickly rain,

On my tummy, tickly rain, 

On my legs, tickly rain,

It’s raining again.

Drip, drop, drip, drop, drip, drop, drip, drop,

Drip, drop, drip, drop, drip, drop, drip."

Good to know 

Give your toddler lots of opportunities for movement and activities that stimulate [his:her:their] muscles and joints, such as pushing, pulling, climbing and carrying heavy objects.  

These help them to develop awareness of their body and to control their movements and the pressure that they use.