Singing with young children is an important early activity that has an incredible impact on a child’s brain development. Singing helps children with language acquisition, memory, phonetic awareness, and reading. Children are naturally driven to music, rhythm, and singing. Children tend to pay more attention to singing, as it helps them break down ideas into smaller parts, making learning easier.
Speech and language pathologists and parents can also take advantage of singing when working with children who exhibit speech and language delay. One can change any song to teach a particular language concept or sound. Following the tune of a well-known song and replacing the words of the song with words targeted in therapy can be very effective. Here are few examples:
1. Songs for teaching body parts
a) “Head and Shoulders”
b) To the tune of “Frere Jacques” (pointing to body parts)
Nose, nose, nose,
Nose, nose, nose,
Little nose, little nose
My little nose, my little nose
To smell flower, to smell flower
Eyes, eyes, eyes,
Eyes, eyes, eyes,
Little eyes, little eyes
My little eyes, my little eyes
To see you, to see you, etc.
c) To the tune of “If You’re Happy”
If you’re happy and you know it touch your ear
If you’re happy and you know it touch your ear
If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it touch your ear, etc.
d) To the tune of “Where is Thumpkin?”
Where is your nose? Where is your nose?
Here it is, here it is
I found your nose, I found your nose
Here is your nose, here is your nose, etc.
2. Songs for teaching verbs
a) To the tune of “This is the Way I Wash My Hands” (performing different actions)
This is the way I clap my hands, clap my hands, clap my hands
This is the way I clamp my hands so early in the morning
This is the way I stamp my feet, stamp my feet, stamp my feet
This is the way I stamp my feet so early in the morning
This is the way I jump in the air, jump in the air, jump in the air
This is the way I jump in the air so early in the morning
This is the way I wiggle my ears, wiggle my ears, wiggle my ears
This is the way I wiggle my ears so early in the morning, etc. (other verbs: wave, rise, blow, shake, etc.)
b) To the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”
Roll, roll, roll your ball
As fast as you can
Roll it, roll it, roll it on the floor
Kick, kick, kick your ball
As fast as you can
Kick it, kick it, kick it on the floor
Throw, throw, throw your ball
As far as you can
Throw it, throw it up in the air, etc.
c) To the tune of “Walking, Walking” (demonstrating motions)
Walking, walking
Walking, walking
Walk, walk, walk
Walk, walk, walk
Walking, walking, walking
Now we stop, now we stop, etc. (other verbs: jump, wave, run, swim, dance etc.)
3. Songs for teaching animals
a) "Old MacDonald Had a Farm”
b) To the tune of “Where is Thumpkin?” (hiding different animals behind back)
Where is kitty cat? Where is kitty cat?
There he is, there he is.
Here is our kitty cat, here he is, etc.
c) To the tune of “If You’re Happy” (holding different animals)
My little cat says meow
My little cat says meow
My little cat says meow, meow, meow
My little cat says meow, etc.
d) To the tune of “I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas” (demonstrating verbs with animals)
My little dog, dog, dog likes to eat the bone
My little dog, dog, dog likes to eat the bone
My little cat, cat, cat likes to have some milk
My little cat, cat, cat likes to have some milk
My little horse, horse, horse likes to eat hay
My little horse, horse, horse likes to eat hay, etc.
4. Songs for teaching colors
a) To the tune of “Walking, Walking” (holding different colored balls)
Red ball, red ball, red ball, red ball on my lap, on my lap
Red ball, red ball,
Let’s throw it now, let’s throw it now
b) To the tune of “I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas” (holding different color balls)
I like to throw, throw my red ball in the air
I like to throw, throw my red ball in the air
I like to throw, throw my blue ball in the air
I like to throw, throw my blue ball in the air, etc.
c) To the tune of “Where is Thumpkin?” (hiding different color balls)
Where is red ball? Where is red ball?
There it is, there it is
Let’ get this red ball, let’s get this red ball
And throw it, and throw it, etc.
