Bouncing Knee Songs and Rhymes

A sturdy chair or couch

Just your voice and your knees

Sit in a sturdy chair and place your baby securely on your knees facing you. Hold them firmly under their arms — safety first.

Start with a slow, gentle bounce and sing "Ride a Cock Horse" or "This Is the Way the Farmer Rides."

Match your bouncing to the rhythm of the song — slow for walking, faster for trotting, bouncy for galloping.

Pause at a key moment in the song (like right before "and down we go!") and watch your baby's face fill with anticipation.

Gently dip your knees for the surprise ending. Your baby will likely squeal, laugh, or kick with excitement.

Repeat the same song two or three times. Repetition is what builds that delicious anticipation.

Try a different bouncing song with a new rhythm to give your baby variety in tempo and movement.

For very young babies (under 4 months), keep bounces gentle and always support their head and neck.

The pause before the "big moment" is where the real learning happens — your baby is predicting what comes next, which is early pattern recognition.

Classic knee-bouncing rhymes to try: "Humpty Dumpty," "Jack and Jill," "Trot Trot to Boston."

Older babies (8-12 months) will start bouncing themselves in anticipation. When you see this, they've internalized the rhythm.

This is a perfect activity for waiting rooms, long car trips (as a passenger), or anytime you need to entertain with zero materials.