Dottie's First Snowflakes
A bouncy Christmas counting song for toddlers and preschoolers: Dottie Drizzle's raindrops turn into snowflakes, and we count them from one to ten together.
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Winter song · with Hob and Dottie and Penny
Hob's Mittens on the Line – Counting Song 1 to 5
Hob pegs his warm woolly mittens on the washing line – one, two, three, four, five! Then whoosh, the wind blows them all around the garden. Dottie and Penny help find every mitten, and we count them back onto the line, one by one.
- Ages 2–5
- Length 1:40
- Coming
What children learn
- Say the number names 1 to 5 in order
- Count objects one at a time, touching or pointing to each (one-to-one correspondence)
- Know that the last number counted tells you how many there are altogether
- Recognise the numerals 1 to 5
- Name colours: red, yellow, blue, green and purple
Links to the EYFS areas of learning: Mathematics (number) · Communication and Language · Physical Development.
About this song
A bright, bouncy counting song with guitar, marimba, glockenspiel and claps, sung in standard Southern British English. Each number is sung loud and clear on its own, then counted again from one, so children hear the number order over and over.
The mittens come in five different colours, so children can count and name colours at the same time. When the wind blows the mittens away, children see that the count starts again from zero and builds back up to five.
Tip for grown-ups: Point to each mitten as you say its number, one number for each mitten. After counting, ask 'So how many mittens are there?' – children are learning that the last number tells you how many. Keep the counting slow and steady; it's fine to stop at three and build up to five.
Lyrics
Sing along, or print this page for circle time.
Every number in the song matches the mittens on screen, so children can point and count along.
Verse
One! A red mitten on the washing line.
Two! A yellow mitten – one, two!
Three! A blue mitten – one, two, three!
Four! A green mitten – one, two, three, four!
Five! A purple mitten – one, two, three, four, five!
Chorus
Peg them up, peg them up, all along the line,
Warm and woolly mittens, drying in the sunshine.
Hob is counting – count with me:
One, two, three, four, five!
Verse
Hello, I'm Hob, the hedgehog in a cap!
Whoosh goes the wind, and the mittens go flap, flap!
Up they fly, all around – oh dear me!
Dottie and Penny, will you help me, please?
Verse
One! Dottie brings the red one back.
Two! Penny brings the yellow one – clap, clap!
Three! The blue one's in the snow.
Four! The green one's by the gate.
Five! The purple one's on my cap – great!
Chorus
Peg them up, peg them up, all along the line,
Warm and woolly mittens, drying in the sunshine.
Hob is counting – count with me:
One, two, three, four, five!
Outro
Five warm mittens, cosy as can be.
Thank you, friends! Count them once more with me:
One, two, three, four, five!
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
Words and music © Puddleby Green. You're welcome to print the lyrics for home, nursery and classroom use.
Activity ideas (no screen needed)
Peg and count
Hang a piece of string between two chairs and peg up socks or mittens with your child. Count them together as each one goes on – then count them all again from the start.
Where did it go?
Hide five mittens or socks around the room, like the wind in the song. Find them together and count each one back into the basket: one, two, three, four, five!
Colour match
Can your child find something red, yellow, blue, green and purple at home? Line them up and count them.
Finger mittens
Hold up one hand and count the fingers in a pretend mitten: one, two, three, four, five – and wiggle them all on 'Hooray!'
How many now?
Take one mitten off the line and ask 'How many now?' Count together to check.
More songs to sing
Hob's Christmas Eve Lullaby
A slow, gentle Christmas Eve lullaby for toddlers: Hob the Night-time Hedgehog tiptoes through Puddleby Green, says goodnight to his woodland friends and counts five sleepy stars.
B-B-Baubles! Penny's Christmas Phonics Song
A Christmas phonics song for preschool and Reception: Penny Periwinkle's shell twirls into the letter B. Listen for the /b/ sound in baubles, bells and bows, then play the yes-or-no sound game.