From the recording Baby Connections Song Time

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1. WIGGLES & GIGGLES
(warm-up exercises, ages 6 weeks to 7months):

WIPERS - London Bridge
Place your baby on your lap so that you can see each other. Allow baby to grasp your forefingers with each hand. Gently spread baby’s arms out to sides as far as possible, them bring them across the baby’s chest and return them to their starting position. (At first you may need to secure each grasp with thumb and forefinger.) Be happy as you sing and
play this game, which stretches your baby’s arm, shoulder, chest, and upper back muscles.

SCISSORS - Row, Row, Row Your Boat
While your baby lies on his/her back, kneel at his/her feet and grasp lower legs around knees. Smile at your baby as you gently move his/her legs up and down in a kicking motion. The purpose of this exercise is to stretch and stimulate the lower back and hip muscles. Extend each scissor-kick to each leg’s full range of movement.

PUSS ‘N’ BOOTS - The Farmer in the Dell
Lay your baby on his/her back in your lap or on the floor. Grasp below knees and
hold the legs down straight. Then push
your child’s legs into a bent-knee position with thighs touching his/her tummy.
Return the legs to a straightened position. Your baby will make the pleasant association between rhythm
and movement as you sing along to the tune of Farmer in the Dell and stretch and stimulate activity in your baby’s back, thigh, and leg muscles.

ROCKING HORSE - Ride a Cock Horse
The closeness of rocking together rhythmically is delicious, especially while singing “Ride a Cock Horse.” Sit on the floor and bend your knees. Place baby on your lap, looking into your face. Hold
her/him under the arms or by forearms, then rock back and forth with your knees bent, just as if you were doing a sit-up. If baby is not holding head steady yet, nestle baby against your chest.

SOARING - The Skater’s Waltz
Soaring is wonderful fun and teaches baby not to fear heights and to trust you. Lie on your back and place your baby on you, tummies together. Holding
firmly with both hands around the chest and tummy area, lift baby slowly to a position just over your face. Move baby from side to side and back and forth, or gently twist and turn baby. This activity strengthens the neck and back extensor muscles that will eventually help baby crawl and walk.