Head, Shoulders, Knees and toes a universal song for all!
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is a fun project to encourage singing within families with young children whilst celebrating the rich diversity of Kirklees.
What is it?
In a series of colourful and playful short films, Kirklees families with children under the age of five took part in a project by singing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes in languages spoken in their home.
This project was designed by our team to link in with Kirklees’ wider ambitions to encourage communities’ involvement in music across Kirklees, with families from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds. All to improve a family’s awareness of the importance of music in early language development and the offers that are available from Libraries and Early Years settings.
Which languages is this available in?
This is the first in a series of projects to promote the benefits of music to families in the lead up to the Year of Music 2023. The first films include English, Makaton, Spanish, German, Urdu, Punjabi, Shina, Hungarian, Polish and Chinese.
How can you get involved?
We are inviting invite families to submit their own videos singing nursery rhymes on social media using #AllJoinInKirklees and #InOurHome.
Councillor Robert Walker, Cabinet Member for Culture and the Environment said
“This is another example of how our approach to the Year of Music is about embracing the whole community, and how music is essential to every stage of life! Kirklees is a place that lives music and here we celebrate and encourage all families to sing together, let’s #alljoininkirklees and #InOurHome”
Councillor Viv Kendrick, Cabinet member for Children said
“Singing active songs and rhymes is a vital part of young children’s language development so we really hope you will ‘all join in’ with this lovely project. We are thrilled that different departments in the Council came together to produce this well-known rhyme in many of our local languages. Thank you to everyone who took part!”
We are looking for alternative ways to be able to deliver services to residents that are safe and accessible.
Even though Kirklees Libraries are temporarily closed due to Covid-19, our Libraries continue to provide a service with online activity, giving residents activates to try whilst they stay at home. The Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes project contributes to this.
“Singing and sharing rhymes with babies and children is such an important part of their early development. Kirklees Libraries have been supporting families for many years through our regular story times and rhyme times. But after watching these joyful and inspiring films of Kirklees families singing Heads, shoulders, knees and toes together, I’ve been reminded just how much fun it can be as well! Now, here’s the challenge – we all know Heads, shoulders, knees and toes, but can you sing it in Urdu or Mandarin? Let’s learn together and learn from the safety of our own home.”
says Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Corporate Strategy with responsibility for Libraries
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is a project funded by Kirklees Council’s Libraries and Early Years Outcomes in partnership with the Creative Development Team. Filming took place at Batley Library, The Greenwood Centre and The Chestnut Centre.