Fun Songs to Sing Throughout the Day

Singing is such a huge part of our day. A day at our house is much like living in a musical, with somebody spontaneously breaking out in song at any given moment. It's great fun, but it also serves several purposes:

• Singing helps to break up the running dialog we try to maintain for language development.
• Sometimes singing is the only way to calm a fussy baby or a screaming toddler.
• Singing is a very useful tool for teaching many concepts.

Use Songs for Daily Activities

I like to sing to my babies when they wake up.

Good morning, good morning, good morning to you!

Good morning, good morning, good morning to you!

Our day is beginning, there's so much to do.

Good morning, good morning, to you.

We sing the Hokey-Pokey song while getting dressed.

You put your left leg in

You put your right leg in

You put both legs in

And you shake them all about

(etc.)

We use the Mulberry Bush song for everything else.

This is the way we wipe our mouth,

Wipe our mouth, wipe our mouth.

This is the way we wipe our mouth,

When we get done eating...

Or

This is the way we take off our shoes,

take off our shoes, take off our shoes.

This is the way we take off our shoes,

Before we go inside...

It's a very adaptable song!

Use a Stand-In

We also enjoy singing motion songs throughout the day, but I rate pretty high on the lazy factor, so I often resort to using a stand-in (might accidentally start burning off calories otherwise).

I use a monkey or a bear to act out the motions, and Little Bit loves seeing her stuffed animals come to life!

I'll often use a stand-in for the following songs:

• If You're Happy and You Know It
• Hokey Pokey
• Head and Shoulders

Make Up Songs

We love singing the "I Hear Thunder" nursery rhyme (to the Frere Jacques tune) during thunder storms (quite often here in Florida).

I hear thunder, I hear thunder,

Oh don't you? Oh don't you?

Pitter patter rain drops,

Pitter patter rain drops,

I'm wet through, I'm wet through!

And Daddy-O made up a similar rhyme for when we hear sirens (he's an ex-volunteer fire fighter):

I hear sirens, I hear sirens,

Oh don't you? Oh don't you?

Reeooo Reeooo, honk honk,

Reeooo reeooo, honk honk,

Let them through, let them through!

We've also added extra verses to some of Little Bit's favorite lullabies.

After singing the first verse of You Are My Sunshine, we added:

You know I love you, I'll always love you,

And I will hold you all night and day,

And I will squeeze you and give you smooches,

Oh I love my Little Bit (child's name)

OR

After singing through one verse of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, we sing:

Night night my little baby,

Won't you sleep and dream with me,

Up above the earth and sky,

Singing this sweet lullaby,

Night night my little baby,

Won't you sleep and dream with me.

Singing little diddies throughout the day is fun and easy. Whether they're made up on the spot, or classic rhymes from you're own childhood, the songs you sing will have a lasting impact on your child.

You can find many more great children's songs here (thanks Jenny!)

Lemme know: How do you incorporate songs or music into your child's day?