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Five Little Monkeys

Five Little Monkeys

Five Little Monkeys” is a popular nursery rhyme and finger play in which each verse being represented by an action. It is usually accompanied by a sequence of gestures that mimic the words of the song. Each successive verse sequentially counts down from the starting number. Children simply love it! You can simply try jumping on the bed while singing the song… Tell the children that they have to be careful when they are jumping in the bed. Otherwise, they can bump their heads and that hurts.

There is no known origin of the song, due to it being a modern nursery rhyme. But, the song has similar lyrics and tune to the first verse of the folk song “Shortnin’ Bread.” Eileen Christelow has written a series of books titled “Five Little Monkeys“. The song proved to be very popular with kids and more versions appeared in different languages and with slightly different lyrics where monkeys “swinging in a tree” while teasing an “Alligator” or “Mr. Crocodile”.

The rhyme is often accompanied by hand gestures, such as holding up five fingers for the first verse and then lowering one finger for each subsequent verse as the number of monkeys decreases. It is also common to make a “bumping” motion with the hand or head when the monkey falls off the bed.

“Five Little Monkeys” Lyrics

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his/her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Four little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his/her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his/her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell down and bumped his/her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

One little monkey jumping on the bed,
He/She fell down and bumped his/her head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

No little monkeys jumping on the bed,
None fell down and bumped their head,
Papa called the doctor and the doctor said,
“Put those monkeys right to bed!”

An additional part is:

No little monkeys jumping on the bed,
None fell down and bumped their heads.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said:
Put those monkeys straight back to the bed!

An alternate version sometimes seen is:

Five little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator “Can’t catch me!”
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

Four little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator “Can’t catch me!”
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

Three little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator “Can’t catch me!”
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

Two little monkeys swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator “Can’t catch me!”
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

One little monkey swinging in a tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator “Can’t catch me!”
Along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be,
And snatched that monkey out of that tree!

No more monkeys swinging in a tree!

Alternatively with Crocodile:

Five little monkeys swinging in a tree
“Look Mr. Crocodile, you can’t catch me!”
Along comes the crocodile as quiet as can be
And SNAP went the crocodile
Oh dear me

Four little monkeys swinging in a tree
“Look Mr. Crocodile, you can’t catch me!”
Along comes the crocodile as quiet as can be
And SNAP went the crocodile
Oh dear me

Three little monkeys swinging in a tree
“Look Mr. Crocodile you can’t catch me!”
Along comes the crocodile as quiet as can be
And SNAP went the crocodile
Oh dear me

Two little monkeys swinging in a tree
“Look Mr. Crocodile you can’t catch me!”
Along comes the crocodile as quiet as can be
And SNAP went the crocodile
Oh dear me

One little monkey swinging in a tree
“Look Mr. Crocodile you can’t catch me!”
Along comes the crocodile as quiet as can be
And SNAP went the crocodile
Oh dear me.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ's) based on “Five Little Monkeys”

Answer : There were only five monkeys.

Answer : The Five Little Monkey firstly published in 1952.

Answer : Five Little Monkeys Book’s 6 Series are available.

Answer : Anecdotal evidence suggests that early versions of the chant that is now known as “Five Little Monkeys” also known as “Ten Little Monkeys” was based on the “Shortnin Bread” song.

Answer : This nursery rhyme has been taught to many children to help them learn how to count. In this rhyme the children can easily understand the backward counting also.

Answer : Eileen Christelow has created numerous fun and funny picture books, including the Five Little Monkeys series.

Answer : The Five Little Monkey firstly published in 1952.

Answer : This rhyme is giving message to the children that children should not jump on the bed, jumping on the bed can fall and hurt them. The rhyme teaches children about counting and the consequences of jumping on furniture. It can also be seen as a lesson in listening to and following rules set by parents or authority figures.

Answer : All the five little monkey having a habit of jumping on the bed due to which all fell down and get injured.

Answer : Children enjoy the playful and repetitive nature of the rhyme, as well as the opportunity to act out the story of the jumping monkeys. The rhyme also teaches important lessons about counting, following rules, and consequences.

Some more details based on "Five Little Monkeys"

The “Five Little Monkeys” is a popular children’s nursery rhyme that features five little monkeys jumping on a bed, with each monkey falling off and injuring themselves until Mama calls the doctor and the doctor declares “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!” The rhyme teaches children about counting and the consequences of jumping on furniture.

The origin of the rhyme is unknown, but it is believed to have originated in the United States in the early 20th century. The rhyme has become a popular children’s song in many English-speaking countries and has been adapted and recorded in various forms, including as a fingerplay, a lullaby, and a pop song. The rhyme is often accompanied by hand gestures that mimic the jumping monkeys, and it can also be acted out as a play or puppet show.

Some activities for children's based on "Five Little Monkeys"

  1. Monkey Counting: Give children five small toy monkeys or monkey cutouts. Then, have them count the monkeys and line them up in order from 1 to 5. You can also have them count backwards as they remove each monkey during the song.

Note: This activity promotes early math skills and helps children learn to count and recognize numbers. It also reinforces the concepts of “more” and “less”.

  1. Monkey Masks: Have children make their own monkey masks using paper plates, paint, and construction paper. Then, encourage them to act out the story of the five little monkeys jumping on the bed.

Note: This activity promotes creativity and helps develop fine motor skills. It also allows children to engage with the story and the characters in a hands-on way.

  1. Number Jump: Have children practice their gross motor skills and counting by jumping over a set of numbered mats or blocks. As they jump, they can count the numbers out loud.

Note: This activity promotes physical activity and helps children develop their coordination and balance. It also reinforces early math skills.

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