By Shelley Harris, Children’s Librarian
Music is a valuable way for kids to learn! Songs can help kids hear how words are made, listen better to instructions, and take important movement breaks. All of these things will support kids when they are learning in school.
Caregivers can use slow songs like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” to help kids slow down and feel calm, and fast songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” to get kids moving. Moving their bodies helps kids to increase their energy and their focus on their activities.
Spend time enjoying music and movement together with the videos and online resources below.
Watch these videos
In this video, Miss Jenny and Miss Shelley share their favorite ways to use songs: finding books to sing or listen to, and using songs to narrate routines and activities.
Here, Miss Jenny shows kids how to go bananas with a lot of movements and silly dancing.
Try these activities
Looking for fun ways to take movement breaks? Check out these resources!
- This site offers eleven different song choices, with suggestions on how to pick a song for the right time. If you have ever attended a storytime at the library, several songs will be familiar!
- Early Learning Ideas offers many action songs to get kids up and moving and listening.
- Melanie Batista has shared a long list of songs and how to best use them with kids.
- These songs are great for toddlers, and Bucks County Free Library has songs they recommend for babies, as well.
About Shelley
Shelley is a children’s librarian with a passion for early literacy, serving and celebrating the disability community, and exploring technology. She can often be found practicing storytime songs with her black lab, Bingo.
