Wiggle Worms & Bumblebees: Bug Songs for Kids

Patina Jackson, MT-BC
May 6
3 min read

With April showers and May flowers come lots of little bugs!! We're roly-poly and wiggle worm crazy at my house, and I bet some of your kiddos or students might be, too!

Check out these songs, resources and a FREEBIE for all of your bug-themed fun! Let's start with some of my...

Favorite Bug Songs!

Whether you prefer to just dance along, to add props like a parachute or stretchy band, to explore a bug-themed sensory bin, or to play with insect finger puppets, you will love these songs!

To find the songs, search the artists names wherever you stream/download music!

bumblebee (buzz buzz) @laurieberknerband
butterflies @claudiarobingunn @angie.who
sleepy bee @ittybittybeats @claudiarobingunn
busy like a bee | Stephanie Leavell @music_for_kiddos
hey! little wiggle worm | Patina Jackson @musictherapyjoy

Hey! Little Wiggle Worm

This song from my album Help to Grow: Spring Songs for Kids, uses the isoprinciple to meet wiggly giggly kids where they are at, and by the end, it slows them down - helping them to regulate and have brains and bodies that are calm!

Search "Patina Jackson" wherever you listen to music! Or check out the links below!

Listen on Spotify.

Listen on Apple Music.

Listen on YouTube Music.

Listen on Amazon Music

Here are a few ways to use the song to support children as they play, learn and grow:

1 | just dance along in the car or classroom! Wiggle like a worm (shake those hips!), buzz like a bumble bee (fists in armpits and flap those little elbows!!), flutter like a butterfly (now wave your whole arms for the long flowing wings), hop like a grasshopper, and CRAAAAAWL like a snail! Check out my routine for the bridge here ;)

2 | add a stretchy band from Bear Paw Creek for cooperative fun!! Sit in a circle, holding the band and: Wiggle it (pump your arms like they are pedaling!); Buzz it (shake it really fast!); Flutter (do the wave - slowly raise and lower your left arm, then raise and lower your right arm, then the next person does it, then the next, all around the circle!!); then stand and hop while holding on! For the snail, slowly walk toward the center!

3 | use the printable visual from the Spring Bundle to practice finger tracing or writing (use a dry erase marker!) while you listen along

4 | add insect finger puppets or toys for fine motor play and object representation!

To see demos, click on either of the videos below!

If you like the printable for this Wiggle Worm, I think you'll also enjoy the visuals for The Itsy Bitsy Spider (read along with the book, then sequence the story!) and The Ants Go Marching (I like to stick the pictures to egg shakers as we count along)!

Find them all in the Spring Bundle in my shop! The bundle includes 5 Spring Themed Session Plans (including the theme Busy Bugs pictured below!) to use in K-12 special education as well as early childhood!

In this 223-page PDF you’ll find a total of 25 Music Therapy Joy strategies! Each original strategy includes a demonstration video (with implementation tips!), strategy description and chord sheet! Many ALSO include printable visuals, presentation or google slides visuals (for classroom screens, tablets, virtual sessions and more), and links to recordings! Learn more, here!

And I can't forget my...

Favorite Bug Books!

Choose a book with an existing melody like, Creepy Crawly Calypso, By Tony Langham

Or a book you can add instrument sounds or your own melody to, like Worm Weather, By Jean Taft

Listen for rhyming words!
Add "wh" questions!
Or repeat the phrase “worm, worm, wiggle, squirm - it’s worm weather!” after each page turn to work on communication - record on a button, add to AAC device, or sing aloud!)

Or check out my version of, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, By Eric Carle!