Shake My Sillies Out - Books You Can Sing

Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi (Troubadour Learning, 1987)

Oh, the joy preschool and kindergarten children have had with this book you can (and definitely should) read and sing! I've used Shake My Sillies Out for many a transition and steam releasing activity.

Illustrated by David Allender, this song-turned-picture-book delights with colors, words, and story line. Any person working with or loving young children needs this song in their arsenal of wiggle controlling delight producing "things to do with kiddos."

Some ways to use Shake My Sillies Out:

~ Learn the song first. Search Raffi and download the song. Teach to and wiggle with children before picking up the book.

~ Read the book as a picture book.

~ Read the book and sing at the same time. This has the added bonus of getting kids to pay attention to words and page turns.

~ Add props as you sing and wiggle - scarves, ribbons, crepe paper, or other flow-y materials.

~ View the illustrations and get children to help you make up a story that goes with the pictures.

~ Make a shaker by adding buttons to paper towel tubes and taping the ends shut. Let kiddos use markers to decorate the shakers. Sing and shake those sillies! (Caution: Supervise buttons - choking hazard if put into mouths - and securely tape ends closed.)

You may have to act silly and make a fool of yourself! But it's all in fun. Be a kid again.

Wiggle those waggles away.