AN EASTER RHYME
The Easter break is in April. We would like to encourage parents to celebrate Easter in Australia using an Easter Bilby – rabbits are an introduced species and cause untold damage to the Australian Environment.
The Bilby is an endangered member of the bandicoot family and is also know as a Rabbit Eared Bandicoot. They are marsupials and live in spirally burrows.
LITTLE WILBY BILBY
TUNE: Little Peter Rabbit
Little Wilby Bilby had a fly upon his nose
Little Wilby Bilby had a fly upon his nose
Little Wilby Bilby had a fly upon his nose
So he flicked it and he flopped it and it flew away!
Traditional – adapted
Birth to six months: (baby lying on the floor or on a rug) Sing the song smiling and laughing and looking at your baby’s face and pretend to put a fly on their nose three times and then flick it away and use your hands to fly the fly away! Sing the song at least two or three times. Substitute other parts of the body eg head, leg etc
Six months to 5+ years: Facing you, bounce your child on your knee to the beat of the song and do all the actions and then pretend that your child is flying away at the end!! Older children can stand up with you and sing and wiggle to the beat of this song and fly off at the end.
LEARNING LANGUAGE
Singing this song many times will help children to develop their vocabulary and language skills – repetition, repetition, repetition! Older children can expand their vocabulary by substituting other insects that might land on Wilby’s nose – butterflies, wasps etc or on other parts of Wilby’s body – knee, head etc
ESTABLISHING RITUALS
If your child enjoys singing this song during the Easter break try to remember to sing the song every year at Easter. Children will remember the rhyme and be able to reflect on their own growth over the twelve month period. Eg “”Last year I could only point at my body parts. Now I know all the names” building up their self esteem. This song would then become an Easter Ritual for your family providing continuity and certainty.
EASTER BILBY FUN ACTIVITIES
Find and read books about the Bilby and other Australian animals. Ask your librarian for books about the Easter Bilby – there are a number of them – and read them to your child. Check out Bilby websites and learn all about the Bilby together. Make Bilby Easter baskets or paint and draw bilbies together. Buy Chocolate Bilbies for Easter this year.
ANOTHER EASTER BILBY RHYME TO ENJOY
This is similar to “This little piggy” and can be done on fingers or toes. Don’t forget to use both hands and feet – children don’t develop their dominant hand/foot until 2 or 3 years so both should be exercised, sending messages to your child’s brain.
FIVE LITTLE BILBIES
This little bilby likes insects
This little bilby likes clover
This little bilby likes fruit
This little bilby rolls over and over
And this little bilby goes…
LIPPETTY LOPPETTY, LIPPETTY LOPPETTY, LIPPETTY LOPPETTY – ALL THE WAY HOME!
Most importantly have fun with your child. Laughter helps to release endorphins in the brain which assists everyone to learn better and develop stronger family relationships.
HAPPY EASTER FROM THE BUTTERFLY WINGS TEAM