It didn’t take me long in the preschool classroom to learn the power of song.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not a singer, but that didn’t seem to matter.  I could repeat the same request until I was blue in the face, and no one would pay attention, but the minute I put those words to a tune…then we were getting somewhere!

Most of the Early Childhood Educators I’ve met seem to have learned the power of songs and rhymes, but a lot of Museum Educators don’t seem to use it regularly.  I promise, it will make your programs with young kids so much easier!  Organizing yourself with a “welcome song” to open with, a song or rhyme in the middle and a “goodbye song” at the end give you such a nice package you can build programs off of.  Yes, I completely understand it can feel very silly (especially if you are in the galleries with lots of visitors), but the kids won’t judge you…I promise!

It takes a little practice to get comfortable, but once you have a few things to use regularly you will find you can make up songs for any occasion.  I will sometimes use a base tune I know (Twinkle Twinkle, Row Row Row Your Boat) and then add in the words I need.  They aren’t always the best rhymes, but it gets the job done.  Plus, I find I get a little less frustrated singing something over and over again then asking in my”nice voice.”

If you can’t come up with the song you need, just turn to Google!  The internet is full of songs that teachers use in the classroom.  If you just search for the topic you are looking for “song for kids” I’m sure you’ll get a dozen options.

Parents, if you haven’t tried this yet, it works pretty well for you too.  My son kicks and screams any time we need to get boots on him, but my husband sings him a silly little song he made up (about socks-les going on feet-zles) and we can just slide the boots right on.

To get your started, I’m copying down a few of the songs I’ve been using recently.  Most of these I use with my son (1.5yr old) and I used to use with my 3-5yr old preschool classes. If I think of others I will add them in!

Before Crossing the Street
Stop, look and listen
Before you cross the street
Use your eyes and use your ears
and then you use your feet!

Washing Your hands
(To the Tune of “Row Row Your Boat” Written by the amazing Ms. Brake at the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center)
Wash, wash, wash your hands
Wash them every day
When you rub the soap around
You wash the germs away!

Getting Dressed (from Babybug)
Over your head and down your nose
Peek-a-boo!  You’re in your clothes

Putting on Mittens (from Babybug)
Thumb in the thumb place
Fingers all together
This is the song we sing
in mitten weather

Welcome Song or Before a Meal/Snack
(from Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center)
Hands UP!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap clap clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap lap lap
Creep them, crawl them
Creep them, crawl them
Right up to your chin chin chin
Open wide your little mouth
But do not let them in!

Settling after playtime (from Babybug)
Hop, hop, stop!
Hop, hop, stop!
Run a little
Run a little
Sit down, plop!