I%27m A Little Teapot

I%27m A Little Teapot

  1. I 27m A Little Teapot Painting
  2. I%27m A Little Teapot
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Gently rock baby back and forth keeping good face to face and eye contact. Touch baby's arms on 'handle' and touch below baby's mouth to signify 'spout'. On the line 'Tip me over and pour me out' gently fall with baby in arms or wiggle your fingers over baby's face to signify 'pouring out'.

Help toddlers learn the actions for this traditional song.

I’m a little teapot, (point to self) short and stout, (round arms and touch fingertips together in front of body) Here is my handle, (place right hand on hip) here is my spout. (bend right elbow, raise forearm, and lower wrist) When you hear my whistle, hear me shout, (remain in same position and nod head) Tip me over and pour me out. (tip sideways in direction of extended arm)

I’m a Little Teapot is an American song first published in 1939. Originally, the song was written by Clarence Kelley to help students master the “Waltz Clog” tap dance routine. The song and the accompanying moves proved to be very popular and the song made its way to households in the UK and Canada soon after. I'm a Little Teapot, Short and stout - Enjoy this cute animated tea pot song, singing and dancing with table friends! Download free kids educational apps, g. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about i'm a little teapot? Well you're in luck, because here they come. There are 129 i'm a little teapot for sale on Etsy, and they cost $14.00 on average. The most common i'm a little teapot material is metal. The most popular color? You guessed it: white.

Practise the actions above but try swapping arms for handle and spout.

On the line 'I'm a LITTLE teapot' (Crouch down), on the line 'Hear me shout' (stamp feet or march on the spot), on the line 'Tip me over and pour me out' (turn around in a circle with pouring motion)!

Song and rhyme words

I'm a little teapot short and stout.

Here's my handle and here's my spout.

When you hear my whistle, hear me shout:

'Tip me up and pour me out!'

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Im A Little Teapot is a perfect song to sing around the campfire with preschoolers. It's short, it's simple, and if your little ones have been to preschool or have listened to children's CDs, they probably know it already!



As a matter of fact, you probably learned it when you were a child yourself! Its cheerful tune and easy-to-learn words make it an obvious choice for teaching to the youngest children.

When you are singing around the campfire, be sure to include simple songs like this one for the toddlers as well as more challenging songs for the big guys!



The words

You may know the tune to I'm a Little Teapot already - but do you know the words well enough to sing them around the campfire?

Here they are!

I'm a little teapot
Short and stout
Here is my handle
Here is my spout
When I get all steamed up
Hear me shout
Just tip me over
And pour me out!



The actions

Most two-, three- and four-year olds love action songs! Even the big kids can get caught up in the fun around a campfire and might be willing to do the actions - especially if the adults are joining in too. Being silly together around the campfire is part of a great family camping trip!


  • Place one hand on your hip to make the handle.
  • Hold up the opposite hand and arm to form a spout.
  • Tip to the side in the direction of the handle.

Have fun!



History of I'm a Little Teapot

I 27m A Little Teapot Painting

I used to think that this tune is just a children's nursery school song, but it has a more interesting history.

Back in the 1930s, a gentleman named Clarence Kelly and his wife (whose name I could not discover although I tried) ran a children's dance school. They taught tap dancing, among other things.

Their older students learned the popular tap dances of the time, but the littlest dancers had trouble with even the easiest dance in the repertoire.

Clarence and his buddy George Sanders, who played the piano at dance recitals, decided to create a dance that was easy enough for even the youngest children to learn. They created a song with lyrics that reinforced the dance moves. The dance, appropriately named 'The Teapot Tip', was a hit!

The song (which is actually titled 'The Teapot Song', not 'Im a Little Teapot') was published in 1939. It was recorded in Big Band style by Ronnie Kemper and the Horace Heidt Orchestra and sold a million records!

Interesting postscript: George Sanders' son Ronald grew up to become a history professor and respected writer. When he wrote his memoirs, he titled them 'Reflections on a Teapot: The Personal History of Time'.

I%27m A Little Teapot




Go to the Complete Family Camping Guide home page for information on all aspects of planning a camping trip.