What can be more fun than seeing God’s little army marching during Sunday or Vacation Bible School? There is something so cute when watching little kids sing along and repeat the hand motions to Christian songs. There are so many great ones out there, and they offer an excellent opportunity to teach important lessons to kids. Kids will remember the songs they sing and the fond memories they bring when they are well into their adult years.
Here are 10 great Christian songs with hand motions for kids.
Top 10 Children's Worship Songs: Lyrics and Actions
Judges 5:3 - “Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the LORD I will sing; I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
10. Deep and wide
Deep and wide (put arms vertically, then horizontally),
Deep and wide
There’s a fountain (rain down with fingers)
Flowing (play piano with fingers)
Deep and wide
(Repeat)
Optional – each time, substitute the below words and say “hmmm” instead
1st Time - Deep
2nd Time - Deep, wide
3rd Time - Deep, wide, fountain
4th Time - Deep, wide, fountain, flowing
1st Time Example:
Hmmm and wide
Hmmm and wide
There's a fountain
Flowing
Hmmm and wide
(Repeat)
9. Clap Your Hands
Clap your hands, all ye people (clap your hands all through this verse)
Shout unto God with a voice of triumph
Clap your hands, all ye people
Shout unto God with a voice of praise
Hosanna, hosanna (put hands near your face and burst out your fingers)
Shout unto God with a voice of triumph (put your hands near your mouth as though shouting)
Praise Him, praise Him (put hands near the top of your head and burst out your fingers)
Shout unto God with a voice of praise (put your hands near your mouth as though shouting)
Clap your hands, all ye people (clap your hands all through this verse)
Shout unto God with a voice of triumph
Clap your hands, all ye people
Shout unto God with a voice of praise
Hosanna, hosanna (put hands near your face and burst out your fingers)
Shout unto God with a voice of triumph (put your hands near your mouth as though shouting)
Praise Him, praise Him (put hands near the top of your head and burst out your fingers)
Shout unto God with a voice of praise (put your hands near your mouth as though shouting)
Clap your hands, all ye people (clap your hands all through this verse)
Shout unto God with a voice of triumph
Clap your hands, all ye people
Shout unto God with a voice of praise
Hosanna, hosanna (put hands near your face and burst out your fingers)
Shout unto God with a voice of triumph (put your hands near your mouth as though shouting)
Praise Him, praise Him (put hands near the top of your head and burst out your fingers)
Shout unto God with a voice of praise (put your hands near your mouth as though shouting)
Shout unto God with a voice of praise (put your hands near your mouth as though shouting)
8. Zacchaeus
Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he. (Place both arms in front of you about a foot apart to show size)
He climbed up in the sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see. (Climb up a tree, hand above eyes to seek)
And as the Savior passed that way, He looked up in the tree (March, hand above eyes to seek)
And he said, “Zacchaeus, you come down; (Point and say)
For I’m going to your house today, for I’m going to your house today.” (Clap on the beat)
Psalm 33:3 - “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.”
7. Father Abraham
Father Abraham
had seven sons,
had seven sons, had Father Abraham
and they never laughed,
and they never cried,
all they did was go like this
With the right arm
(Swing your right arm back and forth after you say "with the right arm" and continue the action throughout the rest of the song)
Father Abraham
had seven sons,
had seven sons, had Father Abraham
and they never laughed,
and they never cried,
all they did was go like this
With the right arm and the left arm
(Add the left arm swinging back and forth throughout the rest of the song)
Repeat song...
With the right arm and the left arm and the right leg
(Add the right leg marching throughout the rest of the song)
Repeat song...
With the right arm and the left arm and the right leg and the left leg
(Add the left leg marching throughout the rest of the song)
Repeat song...
With the right arm and the left arm and the right leg and the left leg.
Now a wiggle
(Swing hips a bit while marching throughout the rest of the song)
Repeat song...
With the right arm and the left arm and the right leg and the left leg.
Now a wiggle and a bow.
(Bow up and down while marching throughout the rest of the song)
Repeat song...
With the right arm and the left arm and the right leg and the left leg.
Now a wiggle and a bow.
Sit Down!
(Everyone sits down and the song is over)
6. This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
(The kids hold up their index finger and move it in a circular motion.)
Won't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Won't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
(When the kids sing "Won't let Satan blow it out....they blow on their finger.)
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
(The children cup one hand over their finger, and when shouting "NO" they remove their cupped hand)
Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
5. Whole World in His Hands
(Have kids spread their arms wide above their heads and bring them down in a circle motion to meet their hands)
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got my wind and the rain in His hands.
(Move arms above your head back and forth with your arms bent)
He's got my wind and the rain in His hands,
He's got my wind and the rain in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
(Rock arms back and forth as though you are cradling a baby)
He's got the tiny little baby in His hands,
He's got the tiny little baby in His hands,
He's got the tiny little baby in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
(Point back and forth between you and the kids)
He's got the you and me brother in His hands,
He's got the you and me sister in His hands,
He's got you and me in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
(Have kids spread their arms wide above their heads and bring them down in a circle motion to meet their hands)
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.
Bible Truth: Matthew 4:19 “And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
4. Fishers of Men
I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men (pretend to cast fishing pole)
I will make you fishers of men if you follow me (move hand over opposite shoulder)
If you follow me, if you follow me
I will make you fishers of men if you follow me
Hear Christ calling “Come unto me”, “Come unto me”, “Come unto me” (Listen to ear, move hand over opposite shoulder)
Hear Christ calling “Come unto me. I will give you rest” (put hands to ear and “sleep”)
"I will give you rest, I will give you rest"
Hear Christ calling “Come unto me. I will give you rest”
Read your Bible, pray every day, pray every day, pray every day (make book, prayer hands)
Read your Bible, pray every day, then you’ll grow, grow, grow (bend down and get taller)
Then you’ll grow, grow, grow, then you’ll grow, grow, grow
Read your Bible, pray every day, then you’ll grow, grow, grow
Neglect your Bible, forget to pray, forget to pray, forget to pray (make book, prayer hands and shake head ‘no’)
Neglect your Bible, forget to pray then you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink (stand tall and “shrink” down)
Then you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink, then you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink
Neglect your Bible, forget to pray, then you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink
3. The Wise Man and the Foolish Man
The wise man built his house upon the rock. (pound fist in hand ending strong on word “rock”) - 3x
And the rains came a-tumbling down! (shower rain down with fingers)
Chorus:
The rain came down, as the floods came up. (shower rain down with finger and then raise palms back up) - 3x
And the house on the rock stood firm! (make house with hands and hit fist to palm on word “rock”)
The foolish man built his house upon the sand. (pound fist in hand ending with palms moving out on “sand”) - 3x
And the rains came a-tumbling down! (shower rain down with fingers)
Chorus:
The rain came down, as the floods came up. (shower rain down with finger and then raise palms back up) - 3x
And the house on the sand went splat! (spread hands out)
So build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ. (pound fist in hand, point up for Jesus) - 3x
And the blessing will come down! (shower rain down with fingers)
Chorus:
The blessing will come down as the prayers go up. (shower rain down with fingers, raise prayer hands up.) - 3x
So build your life on the Lord! (pound fist in hand, point up for Jesus)
2. My God is So Big
My God is so big (move hands out from each other at sides)
So strong and so mighty (make muscles with up with both arms, and then down)
There’s nothing my God cannot do (shake head “no” and cross arms in front of body”)
For you (point at other person)
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse:
The mountains are His (make mountains with arms above head)
The valleys are His (make valleys with arms at waist)
The stars are His handiwork too – oo – oo (Hold hands above head and make “stars” with fingers)
(Repeat Chorus)
1. I’m in the Lord's army
I may never march in the Infantry, (march)
Ride in the cavalry, (pretend you're riding a horse)
Shoot the artillery. (clap hands together)
I may never zoom o'er the enemy,
(spread arms out and pretend to be a plane)
But I'm in the Lord's Army. (point one finger up to God)
I'm in the Lord's Army, (yes, sir!) (salute)
I'm in the Lord's Army, (yes, sir!)
I may never march in the Infantry,
Ride in the cavalry,
Shoot the artillery.
I may never zoom o'er the enemy,
But I'm in the Lord's Army, (yes, sir!)
Christian Songs with Motions: Conclusion
Take time to teach these songs and other great ones to the kids around you. You will soon find yourself smiling as you see the kids catch on to the rhythm and motions. What are some of your favorite songs?
Check out this popular F&E title about VBS games that children can play: 10 Best VBS Games For Kids
Resources- ESV Holy Bible, youtube.com, photo credit: The U.S. Army via photopin cc
