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Nothing beats experience, so I've invited people in different
areas of expertise to share their knowledge with us. Each will
follow the same format, and will include a list of 5 of their
recommended songs. If you click on the song title it will take
you to that page in the Song Library where you can download
words and the mp3. As our experts grow, I'll be organizing them
into the following categories:
PERFORMERS
TEACHERS LIBRARIANS
SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHERS
GRANDPARENTS |
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 Lisl
van Rijswijk
Specialist teacher for children with Autism.
Manor Mead School, United Kingdom
contact:
Lisll@manor-mead.surrey.sch.uk
What role does music play in your work?
"Music and singing plays a
huge and indispensable role in my day! Songs create a
completely different atmosphere and the great thing about a
great tune is you can change the words to fit the situation-
so even boring old instructions to tidy up become fun. Mary
Poppins had it sussed! In my school we have songs for every
part of the day- right from hello in the morning, to drinks
and dinner time and right through to the afternoon when we
say goodbye. They alert the children to a change, to a
beginning and to something new. The children associate each
song with an activity and this helps them cope with a world
that can be very unpredictable."
What is the one thing you want people to know about singing
with young children?
They don’t care that you
can’t sing. I cannot carry a tune but wow- my children carry
it for me! You just have to have fun with it.
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1.
When I Hear the Music
About the Song: A wonderful, catchy tune that sums up
exactly what happens when you hear a favorite song- we tap,
we clap, we sway!
Personal Comment: This is the staple introduction to my
music lesson. Routine and predictability make transitions
for children with autism that little less daunting so
although what they are learning in the music lesson must
change, they can rely on the beginning being something they
know and love. There are the obvious actions that go along
with it and, with the help of Myrtle the Turtle (my trusty
puppet sidekick), it is the perfect introduction to the
lesson.
2. We’re Finished Now
About the Song: As mentioned, transitions are tricky
for a lot of children with Autism- particularly if it marks
the end of something they are really enjoying. Having a
warning that an activity is going to end and singing this
song once we’ve tidied up has made transitions much easier
(for them and the adults!)
Personal Comment: There are very few ‘Finished’ songs
that make the grade with my children. When I asked Nancy if
she could come up with one, she delivered!
3. Five Green
Speckled Frogs
About the Song: One of the best number rhymes out
there- it is so zany and fun.
Personal Comment: This song appeals to the vast range
of abilities of children and something that children with or
without special needs can sing and enjoy together.
4.The Alphabet Song
About the Song: One of the songs that my children
seem to learn by rote and then one day WOW! They realize
that it matches a letter and this alphabet order is always
the same- great for children who like predictability!
Personal Comment: A song that children seem to learn
through osmosis! Everyone knows it and everyone has a
different slant on the on the L,M,N,O,P bit. A then there’s
the last letter- is it zed or zee… Some very funny moments
in my class!
5. London Bridge is Falling Down
About the Song: The can be used for literally ANY
situation when you change the words. It is the most
versatile tune ever.
Personal Comment: If ever I’m stuck for a song about
something, inevitably this is the tune that I use: ‘Now it’s
time to wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands’ or ‘
Get your shoes and get your socks, shoes and socks, shoes
and socks’ and so on and so forth. Brilliant! |
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 Sharon
Chastain, Children’s Librarian
Early
Childhood Education Associates Degree
Bachelor of Education
Master’s of Library Science
contact:
sharchas@kcls.org
website:
Maple Valley Library
How Singing Enhances My Work:
"I've been working with children of all ages for
going on 29 years. First as a day care teacher, then as a
K-8 teacher and finally as a children's librarian for 20
goofy years. The work I do with children and their parents
gives me great joy. Connecting a child to just the right
book, helping with that impossible homework question, or
just making a preschooler laugh and sing along with a funny
song are all shining moments in each day. I do love my
work!
My young library patrons and I participate in the
calculated expression of joy called story time pretty much
on a daily basis. My story times are designed to be very
interactive. I want to hear my audience laughing,
repeating phrases and, best of all… SINGING! Not to mention
dancing and wiggling. There will be at least 6 interactive
songs sprinkled throughout each 30 minute session. There are
standard songs we use every time to provide structure and
familiarity to story time. I have an opening song, a “we’ve
reached the middle” song and a closing song. All other songs
are there to add to the theme, enhance a story or just
because they make us laugh. Each and every song provides an
outlet for wiggles and noise so the songs work as a release
valve for energy as well as being entertaining and brain
boosting."
The
One Thing I want You to Know
"Don’t be shy about singing. Kids seem to naturally
gravitate to music so why not gravitate right along with
them? Hum a tune, chant a rhyme, sing a song, bond with a
child. It’s powerful."
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1. Sticky
Bubblegum
About the Song: This is our halfway song for a couple of
reasons. Kids love it and don’t mind hearing it every week
and it involves a lot of movement and silliness. Half way
through story time the kids need to get up and really move
around and laugh. Sticky Bubblegum lets them do exactly
that. It can be as long or as short as you need it to be by
adding or removing movements (if the kids will let you).
Personal Comment: This is by far my most requested
song (taught to me years ago by the lovely Nancy Stewart!).
I can try and leave it out of a story time but I get
corrected by the audience if I do. Grown men and women sing
it to me when we meet out in the world and say they learned
it in story time as children! Now that’s learning that
sticks. When my nephew came along he taught me a whole new
level of goofiness to add to this song. Instead of just
sticking to ourselves with our gooey gum we stick to the
wall or a chair or the door (he has an endless supply of
ideas). We laugh so hard doing this game/song that we can
spend a whole hour just singing our heads off. Good times!
2. Old
MacDonald Had a Farm
About the Song: This classic song is so familiar
to everyone that it’s easy for kids and parents to jump
right in. It also allows for surprises. I use a flannel
board for this sometimes or puppets and stuffed animals that
I pull out of a bag. The surprises come when I toss in some
unexpected things like a lion instead of a cat or a
crocodile (because Old MacDonald lives in Florida with the
crocs). Let your creativity run wild and surprise your
singing partners. They’ll love it. When we’re done we’ll
often look at the pile of animals and decide which ones
belong and which ones do not. It’s great sorting practice.
Personal Comment: When we’re sorting out what
doesn’t belong on the farm I’m often surprised by what the
kids think should or shouldn’t be there. Oddly many kids are
firmly opposed to dogs on the farm but feel good about the
T-Rex that showed up in the song. I go with the flow and we
end up with a pretty good discussion about how we sorted the
animals and why. Plus they keep giggling as we sort. Silly
people.
3. A-Hunting
We Will Go
About the Song: I like to use pictures paired with words
for this song and within moments the kids will tell you
excitedly that “this is a rhyming song!” I like people who
can get really excited about discovering a rhyme. Life is
good. We go hunting for a parrot and give him a carrot. Or a
bear and give him a chair and if we’re feeling brave we’ll
even comb his hair.
Personal Comment: We’ve had many a discussion about
what we can give the parrot that rhymes. I have a very
determined little boy currently on a mission to find a word
other than carrot that rhymes with parrot. We’re still
waiting.
4. Five Enormous Dinosaurs
About the Song: Math, dinosaurs, roaring and
stomping. This song has it all! Pair it with pictures of a
child’s favorite dinosaurs and you’ve got some lovely visual
appeal to go along with all the other perks. You will also
find yourselves stomping and roaring off and on throughout
the day because this song has a catchy, stompy tune.
Personal Comment: I made a flannel board to go with
this song because it is one of my favorites and I’m willing
to spend some time to create the pieces (totally not
necessary to enjoy it though). Kids love it when they see
the dinosaurs waiting on my story time table because they
know something loud and active is coming their way.
5.
I've
Been Working On The Railroad
About the Song: I pair this song with the book “I’ve
Been Working on the Railroad” by either Nadine Bernard
Westcott or Ann Owen. I love books that sing! There is a lot
of repetition in this that the kids can jump in on if they
don’t know the whole thing. Everyone’s favorite part seems
to be the “Fee, fie, fiddle-i-o” refrain. It’s nonsensical,
sounds fabulous, and keeps the toes tapping.
Personal Comment: The reason this song resonates with
me so deeply is because my mom sang it with me when I was
little. When I first started working with preschoolers she
excitedly said, “Do you remember this song...” and promptly
sang the whole thing to me! I did remember and gave her a
hug then had her teach it to me all the way through just to
refresh my memory.
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 Charlie
Williams, Noiseguy
Sound impressionist, author and kid’s comedian;
performing at schools, libraries, festivals and conferences
around the world.
contact:
Charlie@noiseguy.com
website:
www.noiseguy.com
How Singing Enhances My Work:
"Music is a great way to quickly connect with audience
members. If it is a song parents know, they can immediately
relate. Kids respond to singing on an emotional level too-
even if you are not a professional singer! (which I am NOT!!
But practice makes perfect!)
The
One Thing I want You to Know
"ANY word can be a song cue. When driving with your kids
and you all see a stop sign, you can sing it! “Stop! In the
name of love! Before you break my car!” etc etc! Use music
as a fun word play game. How many songs can you sing with
the word “love” in them?
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1. Bill
Grogan's Goat
About the Song: A multi-sensory experience, teaches
body parts, rhyming
Personal Comment: With a little fine tuning (like we
have to do with a lot of fairy tales!) this can be a cute
little animal song! It appeals to kids on two levels,
musically and as a story. Just have fun with this! How
children respond, why it’s fun. This is what will make
people want to use this song!
You can use sound effects in the song to animate the action.
Do your best imitation of a billy goat! Make a chomping
sound when the goat eats the shirts. Use a train whistle to
mimic the train, and of course coughing sounds when the goat
signals the train to stop.
2. Bear Hunt
About the Song: Mix it up a bit, rather than do the hand
sounds, use your vocals!
Personal Comment: Make the noises of swishing through
grass and stomping through the forest. It introduces a whole
other skill set to children (and often times parents!)
3. Five Little Ducks
About the Song: This song has a sing-able melody and is
easy to learn. And let’s face it- making a quack sound is a
lotta fun.
Personal Comment: Use your funny voices. If you are
like me (and I know I am) maybe you are nervous about
singing in public. I get around this by singing in a
character voice. I sing “Five Little Ducks” like General
Patton. Clearly, the kids don’t know who he is, but it’s one
of the voices I can do- and the last voice you’d picture
singing “but the one little duck with the feather on his
back…”
4.
Here We Go Loopty Loo
About the Song: I like this song because it has
nonsense words in it. “Here we go Loopty Loo! Here we go
loopty Li!” I think it’s good therapy for adults to stop
making so much sense. (all on a Saturday night!)
Personal Comment: I like to add cultural references
to songs, just for my own amusement. If I am having fun,
listeners will too. When I get to the end of “Saturday
Night” I sing the chorus from that 70’s "Bay City Rollers"
song. "S-s-s Saturday niii-iight! S- A- T- UR- D- A- Y
....NIGHT!" Most kids won't get it, but when one yells out
"My Dad plays that song!" it always makes me smile.
5.
Greasy Grimy
Gopher Guts
About the Song: Famous at campgrounds across the USA,
this song embraces all the gross stuff parents find taboo.
Obviously for older kids, it is a professional way to keep
kids singing as they get older. (Which apparently all kids
do)
Personal Comment: Since this is a rebellious song,
meant to gross out adults, the best way to “perform” it is
with disgust… like you are reading a horrible menu. But the
gag is the final song lyric. You should sing “and me without
a spoon!!” or “wonder what’s for dessert!” or some other
improv, one-upped statement. Then you will be accepted into
the tribe of fourth grade boys.
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Dr. James "Jim" L. Thomas
Early Literacy Consultant
17 years university professor;
13 years children’s public librarian
contact::
earlyliteracyworkshops@live.com
wiki site:
itsbybitsybabies.pbworks.com
“Language Play for Infants”
How Singing Enhances My Work
"Singing is a constant in any program I offer for young
children and their parents. It brings to life stories
that I share, connects the care giver with the child, and
encourages listening skills."
The
One Thing I want You to Know
"Singing, just like
reading, connects the young child to the adult and provides
memories of all they learned while little about the exciting
world "
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1. Up,
Up, Up to Baby’s Nose
About the Song: A multi-sensory experience, teaches
body parts, rhyming
Personal Comment: Watch the baby smile at you begin
with the toes and travel up the body with your fingers to
the nose. I always receive a smiling face or wiggle.
2.
Blue Bird
Through My Window
About the Song: Visual acuity/tracking, four basic
colors, integrates words in the song with appropriate ALS
signs
Personal Comment: It’s so exciting to see a
6-month-old track each colored bird as it’s moved back and
forth as I sing the song.
3 .
I’ll Drive A Dump
Truck
About the Song: Displaying illustrations of each
transportation object on a wall from left-right shows the
reading process
Personal Comment: Making various motions of each
item—truck, sailboat, car, airplane, and wagon—excites young
children and before long they are making the same motion to
the rhythm of the song.
4 .
Plant a Little Seed
About the Song: Using felt board cutouts of the
ground, seeds, and vegetables, I plant the seeds into the
ground and then have the children guess what each vegetable
is by giving clues; share Jasper’s Beanstalk by Nick
Butterworth that shows planting a seed and watching it grow
Personal Comment: Parents have shared many times
that when the visit the grocery their children easily
identify the vegetables as they shop in the produce
department.
5.
Four Little
Paper Dolls
About the Song: Children enjoy watching as the I cut
the boy or girl paper doll figures from a half-sheet of
paper and are amazed when the four appear
Personal Comment: I typically pass out paper and
scissors for the parents to cut as I demonstrate the method.
Then they can take the figure home and share the song with
their child.
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 MaryLee
Sunseri
Singer-songwriter of children's songs
Early music specialist
Winner of 2 American Library Notable
Children's Recordings and 4 Parents' Choice Awards
contact::
marylee@www.maryleemusic.com
website:
www.maryleemusic.com
How Singing Enhances My Work
"I perform interactive music programs in preschools, K-6,
libraries and parent centers and give workshops on music and
its effect on brain development in babies (pre and post
natal) and very young children. The songs I use in
performance are chosen for quick response from young
children and the caring adults in their lives. I look for
familiar, sing-able songs that get everyone moving and
singing along."
The
One Thing I want You to Know
"Singing
together creates a bond between parent and child. Familiar
songs form a language that is common and useful in
situations from driving in the car to walking in the park to
cuddling at bedtime—and so much more. A good song is a
well-loved, completely portable and educational toy that
supplies learning and joy far beyond any toy bought at a
store and lives in the memory of the child long into old
age. "
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1.
Open
Shut Them
About the Song: Develops vocabulary, fine motor
skills
Personal Comment: Easy to sing, easy to do! This one
gets baby involved right away! And it’s fun to add the
tickle on “creep them, creep them” going slowly
then—surprise- fast! I, of course, do a slightly different
version of this song than Nancy—but that’s what happens with
songs. Play around and make them yours!
2. When Ducks Get
Up In The Morning
About the Song: Develops vocabulary, builds strong
sense of rhythm, animal noises
Personal Comment: It’s funny, but true, that the
very first language a child speaks is often the language of
an animal! Moo, quack—and here in Monterey we bark like sea
lions! This song has a nice steady beat, good for tapping,
clapping, bouncing along. I turn my hands into the animal’s
“mouth” when I’m quacking—and if a little one is in my lap,
I turn my “quacking” hand in her direction.
3 .
Egg Shaker Song
About the Song: Helps develop being able following
directions, colors, fine motor skills, and rhythm.
Personal Comment: The children love the egg shakers,
the colors and the sound. I fill mine with popcorn, some
prefer rice or dry beans, and I’m lucky that my husband
Frank actually welds the plastic eggs together—although tape
or hot-melt glue also do a good job of keeping these
together.
4 .
Henry The Dog
About the Song: Introduces an unusual rhythm
instrument, listening skills.
Personal Comment: I dance the limberjack
dog (available
here ) and it is so fun to see children say “good
dog” in total belief and love of that little dog and the
marvelous tricks she can do! (Watch a video of me
using it
here.)
5.
Dancing Rainbow
Colors
About the Song: Gross motor skills, builds listening
skills and following directions
Personal Comment: This song is good to use from
toddler age right through elementary school. The children
love to dance, jump and sway with colorful scarves.
Definitely a rainy-day winner—or bring the scarves outside
in the sunshine. Pure joy!
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