"Teasing Mr. Crocodile" is a favorite kids song that has the same characters as "Five Little Monkeys". Below you'll find the lyrics, the instructions for the actions, you can listen to a recording, watch YouTube videos, and you'll also see a colorful illustration!

Game Instructions

Lines 1 & 2 of each verse:

Put one arm out bent in front of you as "the tree". The other hand should have 5 fingers up in the 1st verse (after that the number of monkeys in the verse). The fingers are the monkeys in the tree.

Lines 3 & 4 of each verse:

Put a hand on each side of your head and wiggle your fingers in a teasing gesture. Otherwise, you can use any teasing gesture.

Lines 5 & 6 of each verse:

Put your finger up to your mouth and go "shhhhhh". Put your hands together and weave them back and forth to mime the crocodile moving.

Line 7 of each verse:

Make a big gesture with your arms miming the crocodile's mouth and ending in a clap.

The very last verse:

Shake your head back and forth no.

Comments

Carmen Avalos sent this version of Teasing Mr. Crocodile...

5 little monkeys swinging in the tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "can't catch me".
So along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be and
SNAPPED that monkey out of that tree...

4 little monkeys swinging in the tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "can't catch me".
So along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be and
SNAPPED that monkey out of that tree...

3 little monkeys swinging in the tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "can't catch me".
So along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be and
SNAPPED that monkey out of that tree...

2 little monkeys swinging in the tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "can't catch me".
So along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be and
SNAPPED that monkey out of that tree...

1 little monkeys swinging in the tree,
Teasing Mr. Alligator "can't catch me".
So along came Mr. Alligator quiet as can be and
SNAPPED that monkey out of that tree...

No more monkeys swinging from the tree,
Cuz they're all in Mr. Alligators fat belly.
So if you tease an alligator "can't catch me,"
Then guess where you will probably be.

Check out "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed"!

Download

Chanted by Mama Lisa.

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Val and the children of Daddy Ross Preschool in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for letting us post their Teasing Mr. Crocodile video. Click the link to watch more videos from the Daddy Ross Preschool. Thanks to Carmen Avalos for sending her version of the song!

The image is from "Grosses bêtes & petites bêtes", images and text by André-Hellé (Paris, 1912), with graphical editing by Mama Lisa.