Click here to read 5 Hungry Ants Chant & Action Song for Preschoolers on Hands On As We Grow®
Get your preschoolers moving with the 5 Hungry Ants Chant that our Member of the Month Megan is sharing! She loves doing this with her kids in her day home.
Megan is a work at home mom with a successful day home for 12 years now. In addition to her own 3 kids (ages 6, 10 & 13), she currently has 3 full time little ones in the day home, between the ages of 2 and 3.
The load of planning that The Activity Room® has taken off Megan’s shoulders is huge!
“I am forever grateful to have this resource at my finger tips that helps me be both a better mom and a better childcare worker for the precious ones entrusted to me.”
Before joining The Activity Room, Megan did do a lot of activities with her kids in her day home. Yet, she was busy, tried, and getting lost in the work of it all.
Megan was frustrated, “So then I’d end up discouraged if it didn’t turn out… Especially when I worked so hard to plan or make an activity happen, and if the kids don’t like it, if it’s not a hit with them, I could definitely let discouragement get the better of me.”
She even realized she was choosing not to do as many activities. Because of her discouragement with the time it took to get the activities ready.
“What am I doing wrong?”
“Why aren’t the kids liking the activities?”
“Are they happy?”
“Or are they too entitled?”
“Are they being challenged enough?”
“Am I good enough?”
That for sure was Megan’s spiraling struggle. Maybe you’ve thought the same.
Make sure you check out Megan’s 5 Hungry Ants Chant for Preschoolers at the bottom of this post!
Megan Found The Activity Room
The Activity Room took that weight off her shoulders! Now half the work is already done for her. It took away that discouragement she had around activities.
Whatever activities fail… is now fun for her to share in the Member Community!
It isn’t a big deal to her to have an activity fail now because that extra effort wasn’t put into it. Because The Activity Room did that part for her.
Megan goes on about why activities are important to her:
“I want to spend the time with my kids. Working from home allows me to be with my kids but also other people’s kids with the job that I have.
“To make sure that I’m making the most of the time I have with them.
“I want the kids to look back on their childhood with fond memories, happiness, delight. And also know that that mother (or other female role model) in their life was a happy, joyful person.
“This is a joyful time. I want them to look back and enjoy that. But I also want to just be present and not miss my kids life when I’m there with them.”
“I would say give The Activity Room a try.”
Megan wasn’t 100% convinced The Activity Room was going to be her answer. The answer to making this time with her kids enjoyable.
“I thought it sounded interesting. But I also thought I can find activities myself.”
“I was kind of doubtful. But I was definitely curious.”
“I would say give The Activity Room a try. Even if it’s only a month to month basis, and see how you like it. And you might be pleasantly surprised, because I’ve been on for a year now and I’m definitely ready to stay.”
Megan loves that the planning is all done for her. But she also loves that the activities aren’t just crafts. There’s a really good mix of different types of activities. Whether it’s crafts, art, science, or just running activities!
Like the 5 Hungry Ants Chant for preschoolers she shares with us at the end of this post. Action, memory, and no prep required!
And the simplicity lets Megan just grab the activity out of a hat and make it happen that day.
“It’s so simple and it’s already planned for me. I want to look ahead, but I also want to be able to grab and go. It offers all those things.“
Megan Can Finally Enjoy the Activities Again, Win or Fail!
Phew. Now Megan is feeling much more relaxed and energized. She’s not so tired from having to do all the planning herself anymore.
She can actually let go of the pressure that comes with an activity turning out ‘just right’ and just enjoy the process with her kids.
Megan tends to get caught up in valuing all the pieces The Activity Room membership offers.
But realized that the real value to her is in the Member Dashboard. That is where you get access to the activity plans month-to-month.
“Sometimes I can even get caught up in those details where I’m like, I’m not using everything that Room has to offer. And therefore, I need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. No, you know what, I’m using it for what I need each day, each moment. Whether it’s the dashboard or the Facebook community, or whatever.”
Let’s Meet Megan
How many kids do you have and how old are they?
I have 3 kids. They are 13, 10 and 6.
Why do you love doing activities with your kids?
I love doing activities with my kids because it keeps us close and connected. It’s a chance for us to unplug and enjoy each others company.
How long have you been in The Activity Room?
Since January, 2019
What is your favorite activity you’ve done in The Activity Room?
My favorite activity from The Activity Room is actually the very first activity that was planned on my first month joining; the DIY Light Table.
Don’t forget to check out the 5 Hungry Ants Chant for preschoolers Megan shares with us at the end of this post!
What’s your favorite thing to do with your kids when you get a few moments?
My favorite thing to do with my kids is to read books together.
What’s your best tip for doing activities with your kids?
My best tip for doing activities with kids is to not get caught up in the details of how to do an activity and let that overwhelm or derail your plans. Just start and be flexible to allow the activity to change from what you thought it might be to what the kids need it to be. Relax and simply enjoy the time you’re spending together.
If you were to tell a friend about The Activity Room, what would you say to them?
The Activity Room gives me a road map of activity ideas I can do with my kids. Leaving me free to do the activities and enjoy the time with my kids. Without having to spend so much time and energy finding, thinking and planning the activities myself.
Share your favorite quote
“We must let go of the life we planned so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” ~Joseph Campbell
5 Hungry Ants Chant & Action Song
I really enjoy doing action songs, rhymes and chants for preschoolers with the kids.
It’s a fun and simple activity that doesn’t require anything but your memory!
All you have to do is choose a song or rhyme, say or sing the words, and do the actions.
I have some favorites I remember from my childhood but I also enjoy discovering new ones!
I find them through community activities (like at my local library during story times), books or a quick google search.
One current favorite for me and the kids is called “5 Hungry Ants”, found in Joan Hilyer Phelps’ book Finger Tales.
This is a spoken chant.
Here’s How and the Words to the 5 Hungry Ants Chant:
- 5 hungry ants
- Hold up your hand showing all 5 fingers.
- Marching in a line
- Swing your arms in a marching action.
- They came upon a picnic where they could dine
- Spread your arms out like you’re showing a picnic in front of you.
- They marched into the salad
- March your arms and lean to the left.
- They marched into the cake
- March your arms and lean to the right.
- They marched into the pepper
- March your arms in front of you.
- Uh-oh, that was a mistake!
- Put your hands on your cheek and make a surprised expression
- Ah-ah-ah-CHOO!
- Hold your hand up, pretend to give a big sneeze and blow away 1 of your fingers.
Continue the Hungry Ants Chant with your preschoolers. Lose one ant each time you sneeze until you count down to 0.
I think my best tip is to be expressive and have fun with it.
I also find it helpful to print the lyrics to keep beside us as we sing/chant. Especially when we’re first learning any chant/song.
Lastly, I like to keep a folder of all the songs and chants we have in our repertoire. Then we can refer to it any time and keep the fun going as long as we like.
What are some of your favorite chants or action songs for preschoolers?
Share with us in the comments. We would love to hear about them! Might even add it to our own binders.
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