Children’s Songs and Rhymes
Children’s songs and rhymes are a fantastic way for your child to learn new words and I am yet to meet a child who is not enthralled by adults who sing with them.
Songs and rhymes are fantastic because they:
- tell kids about what is happening in the ‘here and now’
- engage your child’s attention
- usually pair actions with words to help your child understand
- repeat key words over and over
- use words that are functional for your child
It’s about interaction not entertainment.
The power of children’s songs and rhymes is through your interaction with your child. Children will not learn from songs and rhymes if they sit passively while watching cartoons sing at them.
This interaction is so important because it means you can:
- slow the song down if they need time to copy actions
- ask your child to make choices during songs (‘should we stamp or clap?’)
- repeat favourite parts of the song over and over
- wait for your child to sing the next word
- wait for your child to ask for more
- demonstrate actions and help your child copy
And finally, it doesn’t matter how well you can sing – your little one will love to hear your voice and to play with you through song.
Songs about Your Body
- Heads and shoulders, knees and toes
- Do you put your hat on your head?
- My hands are clapping
- If you’re happy and you know it
- The Hokey Pokey
- Standing on One Leg
Songs about Animals
Songs with Actions
- If you’re happy
- Jump, Jump, Jump
- Open, shut them
- Hokey Pokey
- My hands are clapping
- Everybody do this
- You can stamp your feet
- Wiggerly Woo
- Rock-A-Bye Your Bear
- I can run as fast as you
Songs with Describing Words
Counting Songs
Transition Songs
- Sailing, Sailing
- Packing Away Song
Quiet Songs
- Twinkle Twinkle
- Rock-a-bye Baby
- Hush Little Baby
- Here is the Sea
- Sailing, Sailing
- Morning Town Ride
Hiding Songs
- Peek a Boo
- Where-o-Where
- Where are the children?
- Let’s All Play Peek-a-boo
- There is Someone Who is Hiding
Songs about Colours
- Sing a Rainbow
- The Colour Song
- All the Colours of the Rainbow