When I was a registered child minder I would often sing with the children in my care; I will admit to being the world’s worst singer, but the children seemed to like it, recently a parent whose son I used to look after when he was 4 ( he is in his 30’s now) told me that he still talks about my singing now. My husband make a comment that the poor lad has been traumatised and that is why he still mentions it!
Some of my favourite children’s songs are:-
WIND THE BOBBIN UP;
Because children love action songs.
ROW, ROW,ROW YOUR BOAT because even the youngest baby can be included when rocked on an adult’s lap and it encourages older children to work together in pairs
THE WHEELS ON THE BUS is great as children can add their own verses. A boy that I used to take to a toddler group always asked for ” the daddies on the bus” when requesting this song ( I doubt this particular daddy has ever been on a bus in his life!)
IF YOUR HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT.
This is fantastic for getting everyone in a good mood and to get the children moving make up verses like stamp your feet and jump up and down.
HEADS, SHOULDERS, KNEES AND TOES:
Again this is a great song for getting children to exercise while having fun, singing it at double speed gets even more impact.
PASS THE BAG AROUND:
Is a new song, to me, which I came across at a toddler group I have started to volunteer at.
It goes like this:
Pass the bag around,
pass the bag around,
pass the bag around
where will it stop?
Sing this together with the children sat in a circle while passing around a bag containing objects, When the song ends, the child who has the bag reaches inside and takes out an item, which relates to another song for example; a bus- the wheels on the bus, a doll- Miss. Polly and a frog- 5 little speckled frogs and so on, everyone then sings that song.
Benefits of singing with children are that it encourages a love of music, helps to develop communication and listening skills and can help children to gain more confidence.
Singing is great for passing the time. I used to sing with the child minded children when we were sitting in the car waiting for my son to come out of school, we sang “Why are we waiting for Adam to come?”
Also when we visited the park and had to walk up a hill to get back to my house if the children were struggling with the climb singing would jolly them along and made it easier.
I used to sing made up songs to my own babies to settle them to sleep
.
Singing on a long car journey can prevent children from getting bored.
I have been recently reminded that my youngest son loved to sing the Barney the dinosaur song “I love you” when he attended a speech therapy session.
I would be interested to hear what others like to sing with their children.
As always questions, comments and topic suggestions are welcome.
Until next time.
Karen
x
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We’re expecting our first baby very soon and I’m sure we’ll be singing plenty of tunes to him or her. I love the ideas in here. Thank you!
#GlobalBlogging
I did enjoy this blog think the pass the bag around is a brilliant idea. When out and about on the bus we love to hear the little ones singing songs ,it never fails to make us smile. Brilliant blog Karen look forward to next one .
I agree. These were all on the top of my list for preschool and kindergarten classes.
The Bear Hunt was HUGE in my daycare – the kids loved the movement and I loved watching them try to keep up. #GlobalBlogging
We love a singsong in the car!When I had my second baby four years after the first, all the songs we learnt at under ones class came flooding back! #globalblogging
Gymberoo loved a lot of those songs…takes me back! #Stayclassymama
I love ‘I have a Tiny turtle, his name is tiny Tim, I put him in the bath tub to see if he could swim, he drank up all the water, he ate up all the soap and now he’s lying in the bath tub with a bubble in his throat…. bubble bubble bubble POP!’
Even now I remember the joy my son felt singing it 💕
#thatfridaylinky
Glad to see all our favourites made the list! They seem so silly when you break them down, but they’re so important as part of a childs development #kidsandkreativity
A great selection of songs – I’m familiar with them all! #TriumphantTales
My children have enjoyed all of these songs. My youngest daughter loves Row, Row, Row Your Boat, especially the crocodile verse! #kidsandkreativity
Nursery rhymes and singing are so important for speech and language development. Use of lyrics that can be acted out gives a whole new dynamic to it. Thanks for linking up with #stayclassymama
We sing most of these, and “Row row row your boat” is a particularly big favourite for my son. Really like songs with movements too, such as “Head, shoulders, knees and toes”. We also sing some songs from tv shows he likes, for example Roly Mo and Tweenies. My son is autistic and non-verbal, but he will try to say some of the words in songs and rhymes. Music activates the brain in a different way to normal speech, and it’s lovely to see how he clearly knows most of the lyrics even though he can’t say the words (only the first syllables of some of them) x
#KidsandKreativity
That’s great hearing that your son benefits from singing thanks for sharing c
My son is now 6, and still insists that I sing him a lullaby every night. I can’t sing but it helps make him relaxed and he loves it. Thanks for joining in with #KidsandKreativity, hope to have you back next time.
Anything except Baby Shark! 😂 Wheels on the Bus is a firm favourite here, Stanley enjoys making up verses to fit then we all join in! #KidsandKreativity
I’m pleased you put up the words of the songs, thank you. Wind the bobbin up is a new one to me and they sing it at play group. I can now learn it and all my mindees can sing together too.
Thanks glad that I have helped x