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Rub-a-Dub-Dub
Song and rhyme words
Rub-a-dub-dub,
Three men in a tub,
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker,
The candlestick-maker,
They've all gone off to sea.
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Trace your finger around baby’s hand as you say Rub-a-dub-dub, moving up the arm for a tickle as you come to the word “sea”. Make sure baby can see your face as you say the rhyme – they will be learning how your mouth moves to make these words and sounds.
Encourage your toddler to hold 3 fingers up to represent the 3 men. Move hands to create ‘wave’ motion and turn this rhyme into finger play.
Why not make up a Rub-a-dub dance? You could go round in a circle, maybe holding hands, then hold your hands up as you ask “who do you think they be?”. Make up actions for butcher, baker and candlestick maker, then send them all off to sea!
Rub-a-dub-dub,
Three men in a tub,
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker,
The candlestick-maker,
They've all gone off to sea.