Did you know that being able to rhyme is an important predictor of early reading? How so? Because being able to rhyme helps kids manipulate the sounds in common word family words (cat, bat, sat, etc.) that are so prevalent in the early readers.
And a SUPER FUN way to integrate those rhyming words is through SONG! So, I thought I’d share 20 songs we sing quite frequently to add rhyme into our routine. Some of these are original to me; some are old-time favorites. And some are youtube links so you can enjoy them with your child together! Please note that this post contains affiliate links. All photos are used with permission from Microsoft Office Clip Art.
20 Songs that Add Rhyme to Your Routine
1. WAKING UP
Good Morning To You (tune: Happy Birthday to You) Good morning to you Good morning to you, Good morning, dear child’s name Good morning to you! Good Morning, Mr. Rooster (youtube link) I substitute the words “Mr. Rooster” with the child’s name and “Cock-a-doodle-do” with “How do you do?”2. BRUSHING TEETH
Raffi’s You Brush Your Teeth Song (a classic!) Brush, Brush, Brush Your Teeth (tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat) Brush, brush, brush your teeth Brush them every day Brush, brush, brush your teeth Keep cavities away.3. GETTING DRESSED
This is the Way (tune: Mulberry Bush) This is the way we put on our shirt, put on our shirt, put on our shirt, This is the way we put on our shirt So early in the morning. (verses: put on our pants, shorts, hat, shoes, etc.) Let’s Get Dressed (tune: London Bridge) Put your shirt on, let’s get dressed Let’s get dressed, let’s get dressed Put your shirt on, let’s get dressed We’ll look our best (replace “Put your shirt on” with different articles of clothing)
4. WASHING HANDS
Wash Your Hands (tune: Clap Your Hands) Wash, wash, wash your hands Scrub your hands together Wash, wash, wash your hands Scrub your hands together Scrub a little faster now Scrub along with me Scrub a little slower now Scrub along with me. If They’re Dirty and You Know It (tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It) If they’re dirty and you know it, wash your hands If they’re dirty and you know it, wash your hands If they’re dirty and you know it Then your hands will surely show it If they’re dirty and you know it, wash your hands5. SNACK TIME
Thank You, God (tune: Are You Sleeping?) Thank You, God Thank You, God For our food, for our food And our many blessings, And our many blessings, Amen. Amen. Yum, Yum, Yum (tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb) Applesauce- so yum, yum, yum Yum, yum, yum Applesauce- so yum, yum, yum Yummy in my tum. (replace “applesauce” with other food names)
6. PLAYING
Swinging Swinging, swinging Swinging to and fro Swinging, swinging child’s name loves it so! (I learned this from my grandmother. Not sure the name of the tune.) Walking, Walking (tune: Are You Sleeping?) Walking, walking Walking, walking Run, run, run! Run, run, run! Jumping, jumping, jumping Jumping, jumping, jumping Oh, what fun! Oh, what fun!
7. OUTSIDE WEATHER
Rain, Rain, Go Away (currently one of MBug’s favorites) Mr. Sun If you haven’t seen any of the Gigglebelly videos, they’re super fun!
8. CLEANING UP
Clean Up Song Clean up, clean up Everybody, everywhere Clean up, clean up Everybody do your share. (I couldn’t find the link, but Barney made this one popular!) A Helper I Will Be (tune: The Farmer in the Dell) A helper I will be, A helper I will be. There’s work to do, There’s work to do A helper I will be.
9. BATH TIME
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes Scrub-a Dub, Dub (tune: Skip to My Lou) Scrub-a dub, dub In the tub Scrub-a dub, dub In the tub Scrub-a dub, dub In the tub Get clean in the tub.10. ROCKING CHAIR/SLEEPY TIME
Rocking, Rocking Rocking, rocking Rocking to and fro Rocking, Rocking Child’s name loves it so! (similar to Swinging, Swinging) Hush, Little Baby (classic version)Just a side note: You don’t need a vocal degree to sing with your baby, toddler, or preschooler. You don’t even need to be able to carry a tune in a bucket! If this still doesn’t comfort you, simply the lyrics and speak them to a steady beat. The effect is still the same.
So, there you have it–an educationally *sound* reason to simply be silly and sing together! (pun intended) What songs do you like to include in your routine?
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~Becky
What a great list of songs! Thanks for sharing them.
Tonya from stringskeysandmelodies.com
Hi! Thanks for sharing! These are wonderful, I will print them out and share them with my team. I like your blog! It looks very professional 🙂 Great job!!! -Melissa
Thank you, Melissa. I’m so glad you’re enjoying!
Thank you for sharing! I’ll use them with my daughter!
Teeth Brushing Song (Sung to Mulberry Bush tune)
This is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth.
This is the way we brush our teeth, so early in the morning!
(Or for night-time, substitute ‘so early in the morning’ for ‘before we go to bed’)
Additional versus (made up desperately on the spot): This is the way we…..
-Clean the plaque
-Scrub our gums
-Clean our mouths
-Prevent Cavities
I would sing this with a particularly resistant child, so many versus were needed to do an adequate job!
I would also make it into a silly almost-game. For smaller children I would start by tapping their lips on the words “brush our teeth” if they were reluctant to open their mouths, making sure to sing extra silly and dramatic. This would get them to smile or laugh, and then I could sneak the bristles onto their teeth. Would then slowly progress until actual brushing could occur. Sometimes it can take a very slow progression… one swipe, and then two, and then a little longer swipe, and then a back and forth… Especially with younger ones. However a much more pleasant experience than forcing it on them all at once. I’ve been a nanny for 5 years and used this with many children as little as 1 year old and as old as 4 years old.