Hob's Christmas Eve Lullaby
A slow, gentle Christmas Eve lullaby for toddlers: Hob the Night-time Hedgehog tiptoes through Puddleby Green, says goodnight to his woodland friends and counts five sleepy stars.
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Christmas song · with Dottie
Dottie's First Snowflakes
It's nearly Christmas in Puddleby Green, but Dottie Drizzle the little rain cloud can only make rain! When the chilly wind blows, her raindrops turn into snowflakes – and everyone counts them from one to ten.
- Ages 2–5
- Length 2:20
- Published
What children learn
- Count forwards from 1 to 10, one number at a time
- Match each number word to one snowflake (one-to-one counting)
- Winter words: frost, chilly, shiver, snowflake, mittens
- Notice changes in the weather: rain can turn to snow when it is cold
- Every snowflake is different – and so are we: different and special
Links to the EYFS areas of learning: Mathematics · Communication and Language · Understanding the World · Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
About this song
A cheerful, singable counting song with ukulele, glockenspiel and soft sleigh bells. Dottie speaks with a friendly Yorkshire lilt (“Ey up!” and “Ta-ra for now!”).
The counting chorus comes back three times, so children who miss it the first time can join in the second and third. In the counting scene, the number of snowflakes on screen always matches the number being sung.
Tip for grown-ups: Hold up your fingers for each number in the chorus. Little ones who are not counting yet can simply clap along on each number.
Lyrics
Sing along, or print this page for circle time.
Intro
Ey up, everyone! It's nearly Christmas in Puddleby Green…
but I can only make rain! Shall we try to make snow? Let's count!
Verse
Up above the village, the sky is big and grey,
Dottie's got her wellies on, she's bouncing on her way.
Pitter-patter raindrops are splishing on the green -
"Oh, I'd love some snowflakes, the sparkliest you've seen!"
Pre-chorus
Brrr, brrr, the wind is chilly,
Shiver, shiver – isn't it silly?
Chorus
Drip, drop, freeze and flop,
My raindrops turn to snow!
Twirling, swirling, soft and white,
Let's count them as they go:
One, two, three, four, five,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten!
Dottie's first snowflakes -
Let's count them all again!
Verse
Snow upon the post box, snow along the gate,
Snow on Grandad's woolly hat – oh, doesn't he look great!
Snow upon the robin, perched along the hedge,
Snow upon the window, sitting on the ledge.
Pre-chorus
Brrr, brrr, the wind is chilly,
Shiver, shiver – isn't it silly?
Chorus
Drip, drop, freeze and flop,
My raindrops turn to snow!
Twirling, swirling, soft and white,
Let's count them as they go:
One, two, three, four, five,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten!
Dottie's first snowflakes -
Let's count them all again!
Bridge
Hold out your mittens – catch one, two, three,
Every little snowflake is different, you see!
Not one the same, like me and like you -
Different and special, and friendly too.
Chorus
Drip, drop, freeze and flop,
My raindrops turn to snow!
Twirling, swirling, soft and white,
Let's count them as they go:
One, two, three, four, five,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten!
Dottie's first snowflakes -
Let's count them all again!
Outro
Snow on Christmas morning, crunchy as can be,
Thank you, little raindrops, for making snow with me!
Ten snowflakes! Ta-ra for now!
Words and music © Puddleby Green. You're welcome to print the lyrics for home, nursery and classroom use.
Activity ideas (no screen needed)
Ten paper snowflakes
Fold and snip ten paper snowflakes together (grown-ups do the scissors). Line them up and count them during the chorus, then count them again backwards from ten.
No two the same
Look closely at your paper snowflakes. How are they different? Talk about how people are different too – and how that makes everyone special.
Weather window
Each morning, look out of the window and decide: is it sunny, rainy, windy or snowy? Draw a little picture on a chart and count the rainy days at the end of the week.
Rain to ice
With a grown-up, pour water into an ice-cube tray and pop it in the freezer. Next day, see what happened. Talk about how cold air changes Dottie's raindrops.
Spot it in the song
Can you spot the red post box, the robin on the hedge and Grandad's woolly hat? Shout 'snow!' every time Dottie sings it.
Free printable
Count and colour 10 snowflakes with Dottie
An A4 colouring page with thick, clear lines for little hands. Print it at home or in the classroom; there's no sign-up and no email needed.
Download PDF (A4)More songs to sing
J-J-Jumper! Penny's Christmas Phonics Song
A festive phonics song for preschool and Reception: Penny Periwinkle's shell twirls into the letter J. Listen for the /j/ sound in jumper, jingle and jolly, then play the yes-or-no sound game.