Have you ever played a game where you pretend to be fast asleep, and then—SURPRISE!—you jump up and move? It is so much fun to switch from being completely still to being full of energy. There is a playful French song that is exactly that kind of game. It is a song about quiet bunnies who are not as asleep as they seem. Let’s tiptoe in and learn the surprise song “Sleeping Bunnies (Dodo, l'enfant do).”
About the Song
Here are the playful, action-filled lyrics of this beloved French game song:
Dodo, l'enfant do,
L'enfant dormira bien vite. Dodo, l'enfant do, L'enfant dormira bientôt.
(Music changes, tempo speeds up) Réveillez-vous, petits lapins! Sautez, sautez, sautez! Réveillez-vous, petits lapins! Sautez, sautez, sautez!
English Translation: Sleep, sleep, child sleep, The child will sleep very soon. Sleep, sleep, child sleep, The child will sleep very soon.
(Music changes, tempo speeds up) Wake up, little bunnies! Jump, jump, jump! Wake up, little bunnies! Jump, jump, jump!
This is a fun and popular French children’s game song and lullaby. The song starts as a very soft, gentle lullaby. “Dodo, l’enfant do,” it sings, using the sweet French word “dodo” for sleep. The music is slow and calm, inviting everyone to be very still and quiet, pretending to be sleeping children or bunnies. But then, the music suddenly changes! It becomes fast and lively. A cheerful voice calls out, “Réveillez-vous, petits lapins!” (Wake up, little bunnies!). Then comes the command: “Sautez, sautez, sautez!” (Jump, jump, jump!). Everyone jumps up and hops around like happy bunnies until the slow lullaby starts again.
What the Song is About
The song is a game of quiet and loud, calm and action. First, you are a sleeping bunny. You curl up on the floor, close your eyes, and pretend to be fast asleep. The slow, gentle music plays. “Dodo, l’enfant do.” You are so still and peaceful. You breathe softly. You are the quietest, sleepiest bunny in the whole field.
Then, you hear a change. The music gets quicker and brighter! Your ears perk up even before you move. “Réveillez-vous, petits lapins!” a happy voice calls. That is your signal! Your eyes pop open. You are not sleepy anymore! You are a wide-awake, energetic bunny. You jump to your feet. “Sautez, sautez, sautez!” You hop up and down, you hop in a circle, you wiggle your bunny tail. You hop until the slow music starts again, and then you quickly curl up and pretend to sleep, waiting for the next exciting “wake up!” call.
Who Made It & Its Story
“Dodo, l’enfant do” is a traditional French lullaby and game song. Its specific creator is unknown. It comes from the long tradition of French nursery rhymes (“comptines”) and lullabies (“berceuses”). The word “dodo” is a very common, sweet French word for sleep, especially used with children. The song is a staple in French preschools, playgroups, and homes, loved for its perfect blend of a calming ritual and an energetic game.
This brilliant two-part song is loved for three fantastic reasons. First, it masterfully plays with contrast—between quiet and loud, stillness and movement, sleep and play—which is thrilling and helps children learn about different states and follow cues. Second, it is a wonderful social and physical game that teaches listening skills, self-control (during the quiet part), and joyful group participation (during the active part). Third, it uses very simple, clear French commands (“Réveillez-vous!” “Sautez!”) within a catchy, memorable tune, making it a powerful and fun tool for learning action words and following instructions in French.
When to Sing It
This song is perfect for playtime that needs a fun structure. You can sing it during a playdate with friends, taking turns being the “caller” who shouts “Réveillez-vous!” while everyone else sleeps and jumps. You can sing it as a movement break inside on a rainy day, using all your energy to “sautez” around the living room. You can also sing a slower, softer version of just the “Dodo” part as a quiet-time or naptime song to help calm down.
What Children Can Learn
This exciting game song is a fantastic teacher of action verbs, the concept of giving and following commands, and the fun of dramatic contrast.
Vocabulary
The song teaches us clear French words for sleep, waking up, and moving. “Sleep” (Dodo). “The child” (l’enfant). “Sleep” (do, from “dormir”). “Will sleep” (dormira). “Very soon” (bien vite/bientôt). “Wake up!” (Réveillez-vous!). “Little” (petits). “Bunnies/Rabbits” (lapins). “Jump!” (Sautez!).
Let’s use these words! You can talk about routines: “C’est l’heure du dodo.” (It’s sleep time.) “Le lapin saute!” (The bunny jumps!) New word: Faites dodo. This is a common, gentle way to say “go to sleep.” A parent might say, “Fais dodo, mon bébé.” (Go to sleep, my baby.)
Language Skills
This song is perfect for learning about giving friendly commands or invitations to a group, using the special “vous” form of verbs, as in “Réveillez-vous, petits lapins!” and “Sautez, sautez, sautez!” This is called the imperative or command form.
Concept Definition: We are learning about special word forms we use when we want to tell someone to do something nicely, or when we invite a group to join an action. In the song, someone is talking to all the “petits lapins” (little bunnies). They say “Réveillez-vous!” (Wake up!) and “Sautez!” (Jump!). This is how you talk to a group of people (or bunnies!) to ask them to do an action together. It is like saying “Please, everyone, let’s jump!” but in a shorter, more direct way.
Features and Types: In French, commands can be for “you” (one person, “tu”) or for “you all” (many people, “vous”). The song uses the “vous” form because the singer is talking to all the bunnies. To make a command, you often take the verb and use a special ending. For many -er verbs like “sauter” (to jump), the “vous” command is “sautez.” For a reflexive verb like “se réveiller” (to wake up), the “vous” command is “réveillez-vous.” The pattern is: “[Verb in command form] + [the person or people you’re talking to] + [optional exclamation mark!].”
How to Spot Them: Here is the “Action Invitation” trick. Listen for verbs that sound direct and often end with “-ez” for a group, like “sautez” or “réveillez-vous.” They are often at the beginning of a sentence. Ask yourself: “Is the singer telling someone to do something right now?” If yes, it is probably a friendly command. The feeling is like a game leader saying, “Everyone, hop!”
How to Use Them: A great way to start a game or activity is the “Group Action Formula”. The pattern is: “[Verb command for ‘vous’] + [and the name of your group/friends]!” Example from the song: “Réveillez-vous, petits lapins!” (Wake up, little bunnies!) “Sautez, sautez, sautez!” (Jump, jump, jump!) – Here, the group (“petits lapins”) is named first, but the command is clear.
Example you can make: “Dansez, mes amis!” (Dance, my friends!) “Chantez avec moi!” (Sing with me!) “Mangez vos fruits!” (Eat your fruits!)
Sounds & Rhythm Fun
Listen to the amazing contrast in the music. The “Dodo” part is slow, gentle, and soothing. The melody for “Dodo, l’enfant do” is like a rocking cradle. It makes you want to be very still and quiet. The words “dodo” and “do” sound soft and sleepy.
Then, SUDDENLY, the music changes! The “Réveillez-vous” part is fast, bouncy, and full of energy. The word “Sautez!” is repeated three times in a row, matching the action of jumping. This sharp change is the most fun part of the song! It is a musical surprise that tells your body exactly what to do: STOP sleeping, START jumping! The rhythm for the jumping part is perfectly matched to hopping. This musical pattern is perfect for creating your own action-switch games. Try an animal game: Sing a slow verse about a sleeping bear. Then change the music and shout, “Réveillez-vous, gros ours! Marchez, marchez, marchez!” (Wake up, big bear! Walk, walk, walk!).
Culture & Big Ideas
“Dodo, l’enfant do” connects deeply to the French culture of “le dodo” – the cherished bedtime ritual for children. The word “dodo” itself is a cozy, loving word for sleep. The first part of the song acts like a classic French lullaby, calming the child (or bunny) for sleep. Turning it into a game shows the French value of playful learning (“l’apprentissage par le jeu”), where even a lullaby can become a fun lesson in listening and movement.
The song conveys three important playful ideas. First, it explores contrast and opposites (sleep/awake, quiet/loud, slow/fast) in a very physical and memorable way, helping children understand and experience these concepts with their whole bodies. Second, it teaches self-regulation and listening for cues, as children must control their bodies during the quiet part and wait for the specific musical and verbal signal (“Réveillez-vous!”) before they can move. Third, it fosters social play and following group instructions, encouraging cooperation and shared fun, as everyone acts out the same story together at the same time.
Values & Imagination
Imagine you are in a sunny meadow with ten other little bunnies. The sun is warm. The grown-up rabbit says, “Dodo, l’enfant do.” All the bunnies, including you, find a soft spot in the grass. You curl into a fluffy ball, close your eyes, and pretend to snore softly. The world is quiet except for the gentle singing. You are the best sleeping bunny.
But inside, you are buzzing with excitement, waiting. You listen with your whole bunny body. Then… you hear it! The music gets fast and happy! “Réveillez-vous, petits lapins!” Your eyes fly open. You stretch your paws. “Sautez, sautez, sautez!” You jump high into the air! You hop around the meadow with all your bunny friends, under the blue sky. How does it feel to switch from so still to so full of energy? Can you listen perfectly for the signal? Draw the two bunnies. On one half of your paper, draw a bunny fast asleep on a pillow. Write “Dodo” nearby. On the other half, draw the same bunny jumping high in the air. Write “Sautez!” nearby. This shows the song’s big change.
The song encourages us to listen carefully, follow fun instructions, enjoy the surprise of change, and play together respectfully—taking turns being calm and active. A wonderful activity is the “Je suis un…” (I am a…) game. Choose two different animals with different actions. For example, “sleeping mouse” and “hopping frog.” Make up a slow song for the sleeping mouse, then a fast command: “Réveillez-vous, petites souris! Courez, courez, courez!” (Wake up, little mice! Run, run, run!). This lets you create your own version of the song’s fun.
So, from the gentle “dodo” to the lively “sautez,” this song is a game of musical statues with a story. It is a vocabulary lesson in sleep and action commands. It is a language lesson in giving friendly group instructions. It is a music lesson in using tempo and mood to tell a story with your body. “Sleeping Bunnies (Dodo, l'enfant do)” teaches us about listening, self-control, and the pure joy of playful movement.
Your Core Takeaways
You are now an expert on the song “Sleeping Bunnies (Dodo, l'enfant do).” You know it is a French game song that starts as a slow lullaby about sleep (“dodo”) and suddenly changes to a fast, lively command for bunnies to wake up (“réveillez-vous”) and jump (“sautez”). You’ve learned French words like “dodo,” “enfant,” “réveillez-vous,” “lapins,” and “sautez,” and you’ve practiced giving fun group commands using the “vous” form. You’ve felt its brilliant contrast between slow/calm and fast/active music and created your own action-switch verse. You’ve also discovered the song’s message about listening for cues, self-control, and joyful group play.
Your Practice Missions
First, play the “Chantez! Dansez!” (Sing! Dance!) command game. Be the leader with a friend or a toy. Give cheerful commands in French using the “Group Action Formula.” Say, “Sautez!” (Jump!), “Dansez!” (Dance!), “Tournez!” (Spin!). Your friend must do the action. Then switch roles. This mission helps you practice the song’s key language skill of using friendly command verbs.
Second, host a “Concert des Animaux Endormis” (Sleeping Animals Concert). Choose three stuffed animals. Put them to sleep while singing the slow “Dodo, l’enfant do” part softly to them. Then, change your voice to be lively and say, “Réveillez-vous, les animaux!” (Wake up, animals!). Make each animal do a different action: the bear can walk (“marchez”), the bird can fly (“volez”), the frog can jump (“sautez”). This mission lets you experience the song’s core fun of controlling the switch from calm to active play.
