Fun Kids Activities for “Doggie, Doggie Where’s Your Bone?”

Fun kids activities for “Doggie, Doggie Where’s Your Bone?” nursery rhyme song and game.  “Doggie, Doggie Where’s Your Bone?” is a favorite game song for preschool and elementary aged children. Playing the game and doing these fun activities can help children with social skills like “taking turns”. And help them exercise gross motor muscles and encourage vocal singing development.

FUN KIDS ACTIVITIES FOR “DOGGIE, DOGGIE WHERE’S YOUR BONE?”

There’s tons of fun kids activities you do with “Doggie, Doggie Where’s Your Bone?” song. Teachers and parents will love these ideas as they will encourage literacy skills and help kids make important music, social and physical connections.

LISTEN TO THE SONG

MUSIC TRACK CHANNEL LINKS

HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

Let’s play the game!

“Who Has the Bone?” Activity

This is a fun and interactive game for children that encourages singing, teamwork, and careful observation!

Remind the children to hide the bone behind their back. Everyone puts their hands behind the back to “trick” the doggie in the middle of the circle.

1. One child takes the role of the “Doggie” and sits in a chair or on the floor, facing away from the group, or with eyes closed.
2. As the group sings the song (you can repeat the first two lines 3 times to help), the parent/teacher or another child hands a small “dog bone”* to one child, who hides it behind their back. (Quickly hiding it behind the back with both hands.)
3. All the other children pretend to hide the bone too before the song ends.
4. Once the song ends, the “Doggie” turns around and has three guesses to figure out who is hiding the bone.

Options for Play:

• Option 1: The child hiding the bone becomes the next “Doggie.”
• Option 2: (to allow more children a turn) Whether the “Doggie” guesses correctly or not, the teacher or parent picks a new “Doggie” and chooses someone else to hide the bone.

This game is a great way to build listening skills and encourage group participation.

(*The “dog bone” can be any small, safe object like a bean bag.)

LYRICS:

Doggie, doggie

Where’s your bone?

Someone stole it

from your home.

PARACHUTE ACTIVITY

How about a fun parachute activity for this easy to sing nursery rhyme?

All you need is a parachute and a soft object that represents the “bone”.

Choose someone to be the doggie

Everyone else will gather standing around the parachute and bounce as they sing the song.

Sing the song three times!

On the third time, pop up the parachute and help the “bone” to fly over and onto the floor.

The first child to get the bone is the “doggie”! That child can place the bone on the parachute to play the game again.

CHASING GAME

How to Play the Game

This version of the game is played similarly to the original, but with a twist that adds more movement and excitement!

1. Have the children sit in a circle. One child is chosen to be the “Doggie” and holds the bone.
2. The “Doggie” walks around the outside of the circle while the group sings the song.
3. On the word “home” in the song, the “Doggie” gently places the bone in the hands of the closest child sitting in the circle.
4. As soon as the bone is placed, the “Doggie” runs around the circle and tries to sit in the spot of the child who now has the bone.
5. The child who received the bone tries to tag the “Doggie” before they sit down.

Rules and Tips:

• The child who receives the bone becomes the new “Doggie” and continues the game.
• Encourage everyone to take a turn before allowing repeat turns.
• Remind children to walk and run safely to keep the game fun for everyone.

This energetic variation adds an element of suspense and gets everyone moving!

STRETCHY BAND ACTIVITY

Stretchy Band “Who’s Got the Bone?”

This game uses a stretchy band to add movement and fun to the classic guessing game!

Materials:

• A stretchy band
• A small “dog bone” or similar object

How to Play:

1. Set up the circle: Have the children sit or stand in a circle, each holding onto the stretchy band with both hands. Everyone gently bounces the band to keep it moving.
2. Pick a “Doggie”: One child is chosen to be the “Doggie” and sits or stands in the middle of the circle. They close their eyes or turn around while the group plays.
3. Hide the bone: Sing the song three times. While the stretchy band is moving (gently bounce up and down), the teacher or parent secretly places the bone behind one child in the circle.
4. Start the guesswork: One the word “home”, the “Doggie” opens their eyes and walks around the inside of the stretchy band circle while the group sings the song. When the “Doggie” get’s closer to the bone, then everyone bounces the stretchy band faster! When they are farther away-bounce slower.
5. Guessing: When the song ends, the “Doggie” has three chances to guess who is hiding the bone.
6. Next round: If the “Doggie” guesses correctly, the child hiding the bone becomes the new “Doggie.” If they don’t guess correctly after three tries, the teacher picks a new “Doggie.”

Variations:

• High and Low: Play this version standing. As the “Doggie” gets closer to or farther from the hidden bone, the group can stretch the band higher or lower.
• Long and Short: Play this version standing or sitting. As the “Doggie gets closer to or father from the hidden bone, stretch in for short and out for long. Add in a rhyming phrase like “in for short and out for long, playing this game will make us strong!”

This version adds tactile and group coordination elements, making it engaging and interactive for everyone!

WHY THESE GAMES ARE VALUABLE

These games are valuable for kids because they promote multiple areas of development in a fun and engaging way:

• Music Skills: Singing and rhythmic activities help children develop pitch, timing, and listening skills.
• Social Skills: Group games foster teamwork, turn-taking, and positive interactions with peers.
• Physical Development: Movement-based games encourage coordination, spatial awareness, and motor skills.
• Cognitive Growth: Guessing, problem-solving, and memory tasks enhance critical thinking and focus.
• Emotional Development: Fun, interactive games build confidence and encourage creative expression.

By combining music, movement, and collaboration, these activities support whole-child development while keeping kids active and engaged.

MUSIC LESSON

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MORE MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Read more about integrating literacy and music here:  How to Incorporate Music Activities that Strengthen Literacy Skills

There are so many exciting activities you can enjoy with the “Doggie, Doggie, Where’s Your Bone?” song! These ideas are perfect for teachers and parents, as they promote literacy development while helping kids build essential musical, social, and physical skills.

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