Have you ever listened to the music a small child makes? Children are the singingest creatures around! They sing about the weather. They sing about things they like to do. They may even sing about their problems.
Young children can learn songs faster and quicker than almost any other age group. They like to sing while they clean up, while they help around the house, while they play, and while they learn. Songs can help ease a frustrated child, and calm down mealtime.
As a matter of fact, learning is much easier if put to music. Think about how you learned the alphabet. More than likely, you learned to sing it to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Think how proud you were to be able to sing it all the way through, and how much fun it was.
So, think about your child’s need for music and encourage singing. Try a few of the following songs, and then make up your own. It isn’t hard, and it will encourage your child to make up his or her own songs and tunes.
Here are three favorites in our family that are great for the little ones… Share your favorites with us!!!
“Eeency, Weency, Spider”
In this well-known fingerplay song, the index fingers and the thumbs indicate the spider’s motion, and appropriate hand gestures act out the rest of the song.
The eency, weency spider went up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Up came the sun and dried up all the rain
So the eency, weency spider when up the spout again.
“Where is Thumbkin?”
Sung to the tune of “Frere Jacques,” this is one of the many fingerplay songs beloved by babies and small children. Each thumb in turn is held up at “Here I am. Here I am,” wiggled in turn to “How are you this morning? Very well, I thank you.” Each hand takes refuge behind the back at the words “Run away.” The same motions are then repeated for each finger of the hand: Pointer, Tall Man, Ring Man, and Pinky.
Where is Thumbkin? Where is Thumbkin?
Here I am. Here I am.
How are you today sir?
Very well, I thank you.
Run away. Run away.
The verse is repeated for Pointer, Tall Man, Ring Man, and Pinky.
The following one is my granddaughter’s favorites… And I discovered two cute YouTube versions to share!
“If You’re Happy and You Know It”
This is a popular repetitive children’s song. There are many different versions that have been altered in various ways over the years.
“If You’re Happy and You Know It”
“If You’re Happy and You Know It” – multi cultural
The original song as it is known to many people begins:
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it,
And you really want to show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
A common variation of the fourth line is “Then your face will surely show it.”
The song usually proceeds with other verses that replace “clap your hands” with alternate phrases such as “stomp your feet.”