This activity is excerpted from:
Transition Time: Let's Do Something Different! by Jean Feldman, Ph.D.

When?
Sing this tune to the children when it's time to clean up.

Why?
Children respond more readily to a pleasant song than to
demanding statements.

What?
No materials are needed.

How?
While putting away toys, begin singing this song to the tune of "Jingle Bells."

Tidy-Up Song
Tidy-up, tidy-up, put the toys away.
Tidy-up, tidy-up, we're finished for today.
Oh, tidy-up, tidy-up, put the toys away.
For we'll get them out again
The next time that we play.

Adaptations
- Let one child be the "singer" and skip around the room as he sings the clean-up song and reminds his friends what to do.
- Here are other helper songs to sing.

A Helper I Will Be
(Tune: "Farmer in the Dell")

A helper I will be.
A helper I will be.
There's work to do,
There's work to do,
A helper I will be.

Jolly Good Helper
(Tune: "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow")
(Insert the names of children who are helping.)

(Child's name) is a jolly good helper.
(Child's name) is a jolly good helper.
(Child's name) is a jolly good helper.
And (another child's name) is a helper, too.