How to Teach "Do Your Ears Low" to Young Kids
"Do Your Ears Low" is a simple action song that helps children learn body part identification through movement. The basic version has kids bend their ears down by wiggling them while singing along. It sounds simple enough, but getting a room full of three-year-olds to actually move their ears is where things get interesting. Start by singing it at half speed. I learned this the hard way with a group of preschoolers who just stood there looking confused when I went at normal tempo. The original lyrics go something like: Do your ears low? Do your ears low?
Can you do it with your eyes closed? Do your ears low? Do your ears low? Now open them and show us how!
The trick is demonstrating the movement first, then singing. Most kids can't figure out the ear-wiggling motion without seeing it done. I usually exaggerate mine dramatically at first, then do it normally so they have a reference point.
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What Actually Works in Practice
Not every kid can consciously wiggle their ears. About 30% of the population can't do it voluntarily regardless of instruction. I spent an entire circle time trying to get a four-year-old to do it and ended up just having him pretend instead. Don't force it. Have the kids who can't actually move their ears just press their hands near their ears and wiggle their fingers. They still get the coordination practice and don't feel left out. Another practical issue: some kids get overstimulated by the "eyes closed" part. They either keep them peeking open or refuse to close them at all. That's fine. The song works without the eye-closing component if you need to skip it for sensory-sensitive children.
Variations That Keep It Interesting
Once the basic version is mastered, you can rotate body parts. Do Your Ears Low became the template I built most of my early childhood music lessons around. After ears, move to eyebrows, nostrils, toes, and tongue. Each one follows the same structure but teaches different motor control. The eyebrow variation is my favorite because almost everyone can do it and it's genuinely funny to watch kids try to lift just one at a time. The tongue one tends to cause giggling fits, so I save that for after snack time when energy is already high.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't expect more than one full runthrough before kids lose focus. The whole thing should take about two minutes max for this age group. If you stretch it out with too much explanation, you've lost them. Sing it, do the movements, done. Also, avoid correcting kids who can't do the movement perfectly. If a child is moving their whole head instead of just their ears, that's developmentally normal and they'll refine it with practice. Correcting it mid-song just disrupts the flow and makes them self-conscious about something that should be fun.
Where to Find the Audio
There are several free versions online. The Super Simple Songs rendition on YouTube is clear and well-paced for young kids. If you need something for offline use, searching "Do Your Ears Low mp3" on standard music sites will pull up several options. I keep a folder of these action songs on my phone for whenever circle time runs longer than expected or we need a transition activity between rooms. The song itself is public domain in most versions, so there aren't major licensing concerns if you're using it in a classroom or daycare setting. Just don't republish someone else's specific recording as your own.
Why This Song Actually Matters
Beyond the obvious body part naming, this song builds proprioception and bilateral coordination. Kids have to listen, process the instruction, remember the movement, and execute it while keeping rhythm. That's a lot for a young brain to handle in twelve seconds. The eye-closing version adds a sensory challenge that's surprisingly effective for focus building. I stopped thinking of it as just a filler song a couple years ago. Now I use it deliberately when I need kids to reset and refocus. Two rounds and most of them are ready for whatever comes next.
