How to teach toddler body parts in English with games and rhymes

To teach toddler body parts in English, start with five words your child can touch on their own face and hands: “nose,” “eyes,” “mouth,” “ears” and “hands.” Touch your nose, say “nose,” then gently touch theirs and ask, “Where’s your nose?” A few minutes a day of this pointing game, plus a song with actions, is all you need to get started.

Body parts for toddlers are a wonderful first topic because your child carries the whole lesson with them, everywhere. No cards, no toys, nothing to set up. The bath, the changing table, getting dressed and bedtime all come with a nose, ten toes and a tummy to tickle.

You don’t need perfect English for any of this. If you can touch your nose and laugh a little, you can play every game here, from simple pointing to bath-time words, old rhymes and body words in both English and Spanish.

Why body parts make great first words

Most first words are about things that come and go: the ball rolls away, the dog goes home. Body parts stay put. Your child can find their nose at breakfast, in the car and in the bath, and so can you. That makes it easy to say the same word many times a day, and small children learn words by hearing them again and again.

Body words also come with built-in actions. “Clap your hands.” “Stomp your feet.” “Close your eyes.” Your child can show you they understand simply by doing it, well before the word itself comes out. For a toddler, that feels like a game, not a lesson.

And they’re useful. A child who knows “hand,” “foot” and “tummy” can follow “wash your hands,” help with “shoes on your feet” and, a little later, tell a grown-up “my tummy hurts.” If you’re building a first word list, body parts sit nicely next to the everyday words on our starter list of first English words.

Which body parts to teach first

There’s no perfect order, but some body parts for toddlers to learn are much easier than others. The best first words are big, easy to see and easy to touch. Start with the face, then move down the body, and save the small, tricky ones for later.

First five: the face and hands

• nose
• eyes
• mouth
• ears
• hands

The face is right in front of you when you hold your child, and a nose is very easy to point to. Many toddlers learn “nose” first, often because grown-ups make it so much fun: “Beep! Your nose!”

Next five: from head to toes

• head
• hair
• tummy
• feet
• toes

“Tummy” is a cozy, child-friendly word, and “belly” works too. Feet and toes are perfect for bath time and the changing table, when they’re bare and wiggly.

Later: the small and tricky ones

• arms
• legs
• fingers
• teeth
• knees
• shoulders
• elbows
• chin
• cheeks
• neck
• back
• thumbs
• belly button

Elbows and shoulders are hard to see on yourself, and the back is impossible, so these usually come later. The belly button is an exception: most toddlers find it hilarious and learn it fast.

A few sounds to keep in mind if English is your second language: in “knees” the k is silent (say “neez”), and in “thumb” the b is silent. “Mouth” and “teeth” end with the soft “th,” the tongue peeking out between the teeth. If you’re not sure about a word, say it the way you know it, warmly. Your child cares much more about the game than about a perfect accent.

Teach toddler body parts with point and name

The best way to teach toddler body parts is also the simplest: point and name. You don’t need anything else. Here’s the game in four small steps, from easiest to hardest.

1. Name it on yourself. Touch your own nose and say, slowly and clearly, “Nose. My nose.” Say it two or three times. Your child watches and listens. That’s all they need to do for now.
2. Name it on your child. Gently touch their nose: “Your nose!” A little tap or a soft “beep” makes it fun. Then do the same with a teddy or a doll: “Teddy’s nose.”
3. Ask your child to point. “Where’s your nose?” Then give them a quiet moment to look for it. If they point, celebrate: “Yes! There’s your nose!” If not, take their hand softly, help them touch it and say the word again.
4. Ask your child to name it. Touch your own nose and ask, “What’s this?” Pause. If they say “nose” or even “no,” cheer. If not, say “nose” yourself, smile and move on.

Pointing comes before talking. A child who touches their ears when you say “ears” understands the word, even if they won’t say it for weeks. So spend most of your time on steps 1–3, and treat step 4 as a bonus.

Mix in your child’s home language if it helps: “Nariz… nose!” Then use the English word for the rest of the game. A mirror makes the whole thing even better, because your child can see both of you pointing at the same time.

Five-minute body part games

Once your child knows the basic game, these activities to teach toddlers body parts keep it fresh. Each one takes about five minutes, uses things you already have and works in English, Spanish or both.

• Touch your… game. Call out a body part and touch it together: “Touch your head! Touch your toes! Touch your tummy!” Go fast, then very slow. When your child knows a few words, let them give the orders while you follow. Toddlers love being the boss.
• Sticker hunt. While your child’s eyes are closed, press one big sticker onto a hand, a knee or a foot. “Open your eyes! Where did it go?” Find it together and say the spot out loud: “On your foot!” Then swap roles and let your child hide it on you. Stay close and use one sticker at a time.
• Peekaboo body. Cover your child’s feet with a blanket. “Where are your feet? There they are!” Then hands, tummy, head. A shirt over the head works too: “Where’s your head? Peekaboo!”
• Wiggle dance. Put on some music and call out moves: “Wiggle your fingers! Shake your hands! Stomp your feet! Nod your head!” Your child learns body words and action words at the same time.
• Make a face. Draw a big circle on paper and add a face together: “Where do the eyes go? Now the nose. And a big smiling mouth!” In the fall, a paper pumpkin is perfect for this. Play dough faces work just as well.
• Teddy’s check-up. Your child is the helper, and teddy needs a look: “Let’s check teddy’s ears. Now teddy’s feet.” Add a bandage on teddy’s knee if your child loves that part.

Pick one or two games a day, not all six. End while your child is still giggling, and bring back the same favorite tomorrow. The repeats do the teaching. If short sessions feel too small to matter, here’s why five minutes is enough.

Traditional rhymes and action songs

Songs to teach toddlers body parts work so well because every word comes with a move. Your child doesn’t have to sing at all. Touching the right spot at the right moment is already joining in. These are old, traditional rhymes, short enough to learn in a minute and easy to sing anywhere, no screen needed.

• “Head, shoulders, knees and toes.” The classic. Sing it slowly at first and touch each part as you name it. Once your child knows it, sing it fast, then super slow, then in a whisper. Older toddlers love the version where you leave out one word each round and only touch the spot.
• “If you’re happy and you know it.” Swap in new body actions every verse: clap your hands, stomp your feet, touch your nose, pat your head. Your child can choose the next one.
• “This little piggy.” A toe rhyme for the changing table, the bath or bedtime. Wiggle one toe at a time, and save a tickle for the last little piggy.
• “Round and round the garden.” Trace circles on your child’s palm with one finger, walk your fingers up their arm and finish with a tickle under the arm. It teaches “hand” and “arm” with lots of giggles.
• “Pat-a-cake.” A clapping rhyme for hands. Clap together, slowly, face to face.
• “Two little eyes.” An old finger rhyme: “Two little eyes to look around, two little ears to hear each sound.” Point to each part as you say it. It’s calm and quiet, so it works well before a nap.

If your family sings in Spanish, many of these have Spanish versions too, like “Cabeza, hombros, rodillas y pies,” and finger rhymes like “Este dedito.” Singing the same tune in both languages is a lovely way to connect the words: your child touches the same knees whether you sing “knees” or “rodillas.”

When you choose nursery rhymes to teach body parts, slow is better than fast. Sing at your child’s speed, pause before a body word so they can touch it first, and repeat the same one or two songs for a week before adding a new one.

Body parts at bath time and getting dressed

You don’t need to find extra time to help your toddler learn body parts. Your day already has a few perfect moments built in, when your child’s body is the main event.

In the bath

Bath time is made for body words. Say each body part as you wash it, in the same order every night, so your child starts to guess what comes next.

• “Wash your hands. Wash your arms. Now your tummy!”
• “Where’s your belly button? There it is!”
• “A bubble on your nose! A bubble beard on your chin!”
• “Close your eyes. Water on your hair. All clean!”
• “Kick your legs. Splash, splash!”

After the bath, lotion or a towel rub gives you one more round: “Rub your feet. Rub your knees. Rub your back.”

Getting dressed

Every piece of clothing goes on a body part, so dressing is a ready-made word game. Say the body part as it appears.

• “Arms up! Where’s your hand? There’s your hand!”
• “Head through… peekaboo! There’s your head!”
• “One sock on one foot. One sock on the other foot.”
• “Shoes on your feet. Hat on your head.”
• “Zip, zip, all the way up to your chin.”

Leave a little pause sometimes: “Sock on your…” and wait. If your child says “foot” or just lifts their foot, that’s a win.

Teeth and bedtime

Brushing teeth adds “mouth,” “teeth” and “tongue”: “Open your mouth. Show me your teeth. Brush, brush, brush.” At bedtime, try saying good night to the body, one part at a time: “Night-night, toes. Night-night, knees. Night-night, nose.” It’s calm, it’s cozy and it’s a gentle review of the day’s words.

Counting body parts: one nose, two eyes

Bodies are great for first numbers too. “One nose. One mouth. Two eyes. Two ears.” Touch each one as you count. Then the big ones: “Ten fingers! Ten toes!” Your two-year-old doesn’t need to understand numbers yet. They’re enjoying the rhythm, and they’re hearing body words again and again.

Then go around the family, teddy included: “Teddy has two ears. Mommy has two ears. You have two ears!” The same small sentence, said three times, gives your child an easy pattern to join.

Body parts in English and Spanish

Many children who hear Spanish at home already know “nariz” and “pancita.” That’s a head start. Each word below comes with a short English line to say while you play.

One fun difference: Spanish uses “dedos” for both fingers and toes, while English has two words. Your child may mix them up for a while, and that’s fine. Our 100 first words in English and Spanish has many more pairs like these.

What changes at 2, 3 and 4

When you teach a 2-year-old body parts, keep it tiny: the first five words, lots of pointing and no pressure to talk. At 4, body words also help at preschool, where your child follows “wash your hands” and can tell the teacher when something hurts. You’ll find more for the youngest ones in English for 2-year-olds. Every child moves at their own speed, so treat the table as a loose guide.

Small signs it’s working

Body words show up in small, everyday ways. Watch for little moments like these:

• Your child touches their head as soon as the song starts.
• They lift a foot when you say “shoes on.”
• They point to teddy’s eyes, not just their own.
• They name a body part on you without being asked: “Mommy’s nose!”
• They say a word in Spanish, then in English: “Nariz… nose!”

Common mistakes (and what to do instead)

• Starting with elbows and shoulders. Your child can’t easily see them, so they’re hard to learn first. Begin with the nose, eyes and hands, which your child can see and touch.
• Stopping at single words. “Nose” is a great start, but add a little action too: “Wash your hands,” “Wiggle your toes.” Short phrases like these are exactly what your child will hear at preschool.
• Waiting for your child to sit still. Body words are made for moving. Dance, stomp and wiggle.
• Fixing “foots” and “tooths.” These are clever mistakes: your child is using a real English rule on words that break it. Just say it back the right way, warmly: “Yes, two feet!”
• Touching when your child says no. Some children don’t want to be tickled or tapped. Respect that, and play on your own body or on teddy instead.

Questions parents ask

Which body parts should a toddler learn first?

Start with the face and hands: nose, eyes, mouth, ears and hands. They’re easy to see and touch. Then add head, hair, tummy, feet and toes, and save elbows and shoulders for later.

How do I teach body parts if my toddler won’t sit still?

Don’t ask them to. Body words are perfect for wiggly children: play the “Touch your…” game, dance and call out moves, or name body parts while getting dressed and in the bath. Moving is learning here.

Are songs better than games for body parts?

Both work, and they work best together. Songs give your child a fun rhythm and a reason to repeat, while games like point and name let you go slowly, one word at a time. Try one of each every day.

Should I teach body parts in English and Spanish together?

Yes, if Spanish is part of your home. Use the Spanish word as a bridge, “Pancita… tummy!”, then carry on with the game in English. A child who already knows “rodillas” only needs a second name for the same knees.

Is it progress if my toddler points but doesn’t say the words?

Yes. Pointing to the right body part shows your child understands the word, and understanding usually comes well before talking. Many children learning a new language listen quietly for a while, as we explain in our guide to the silent period in bilingual children. If you have any worries about your child’s talking, ask your pediatrician.

Body parts are the one English lesson your child never leaves at home: a nose to beep, toes to count and a tummy to tickle. Start with five words, play a little every day and let the bath and getting dressed do the rest. And when you want a calm English moment with nothing to read or set up, try a Tatako lesson side by side.