15 Best Action Songs for Toddlers, Preschoolers & Kids

When bored children are left to their own devices, there are endless amounts of mischief that can result from it. This is why it is best to keep them busy and entertained. The cherry on top is if the activities you choose will be beneficial for them. Some fun action songs are one of the easiest ways that you can keep your little ones entertained and prevent them from being naughty, while also teaching them a lot. Children’s action songs are particularly effective in engaging their attention and energy. These action songs for toddlers, preschoolers, and kids provide entertainment and encourage movement and physical activity. Movement songs, in particular, help children develop their motor skills and coordination, making them an excellent choice for playtime. 

What Is an Action Song?

A nursery rhyme or a song that involves particular directions or acting out of certain movements to go along with the lyrics is known as an action song. The Hokey Pokey and The Wheels on The Bus are two good examples of what an action song is.

Benefits of Action Songs for Kids

Not only are you sure to hear laughter during toddler action songs, but you can also be sure that there are some other rather important benefits to them.

1. Awareness of the Body and Coordination

When children engage in action songs, they often have to move and coordinate different body parts. This makes them a lot more aware of how they can coordinate different body parts to get the required result. They tend to strengthen the connection of the body part to the brain by engaging in these different movements.

2. Helps With Routines and Transition Timing

Action songs can help with menial household tasks that parents like to get their kids involved in. This could be for clean-up time, where parents may include a song and a cleaning action that their kids need to follow. At school, it can be used to line up, form circles and even assist in organised exiting of the classroom at the end of the school day.

3. Improves Listening Skills and Attention

Children need to pay attention to what is being sung and they need to listen well in order to catch it. In this way, they can improve both these vital skills.

4. Gives Them Physical Exercise

These days, way too many activities are being held indoors. Young children do not have the freedom to play outside as they used to in years past. Action songs keep children active, even if they are at home.

5. Enhances Language Development

Singing action songs helps children improve their vocabulary and language skills. As they sing along, they learn new words and phrases, which can enhance their verbal communication abilities.

6. Boosts Social Interaction

Participating in action songs can also boost children’s social skills. When they sing and move together in a group, they learn to cooperate, take turns, and engage in shared activities, which are essential for social development.

Best Action and Movement Songs for Toddlers

Here are some fun and simple movement songs for children:

1. Sleeping Bunnies

This fun song does start off on a calmer note, but towards the end, it becomes more active. It is a good one to start with.

Song Lyrics 

See the bunnies sleeping,
Till it’s nearly noon,

Shall we wake them with a merry tune?
They’re so still, are they ill?

WAKE UP LITTLE BUNNIES
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop,

Hop, hop, hop,
Hop, hop, hop,

Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop,
Hop, hop, hop!

2. Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

This is one of the best music and movement songs for toddlers as it is great for teaching your little toddlers what the basic body parts are.

Song Lyrics

Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes,
Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes,

Eyes and Ears and Mouth and Nose,
Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes!

3. Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush

This is one of the action rhymes for toddlers that provides a great way for you to teach your kids simple actions like brushing teeth or washing their face and others. Add as many verses as you like.

Song Lyrics

Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush,

Here we go round the mulberry bush,
So early in the morning.

This is the way we brush our teeth,
we brush our teeth, we brush our teeth,

This is the way we brush our teeth,
So early in the morning.

4. Hokey Pokey

This one is something that everyone is familiar with. Easy and good for teaching right and left body parts to the kids. Substitute with whatever body parts you want to teach your children.

Song Lyrics

You put your left arm in,
your left arm out!

In out, in out!
You shake it all about!

You do the Hokey Pokey and
you turn around!

That’s what it’s all about
Woah the Hokey Pokey!

Woah the Hokey Pokey!
Woah the Hokey Pokey!

Knees bend, arms stretched!
Rah rah rah!

5. If You’re Happy and You Know It

A classic rhyme that everyone knows. This is another good action song to help your kids learn to move different body parts. You can even make up your own actions.

Song Lyrics

If you’re happy and you know it,
Clap your hands!

If you’re happy and you know it,
Clap your hands!

If you’re happy and you know it,
and you really want to show it!

If you’re happy and you know it,
Clap your hands!

6. Row, Row, Row Your Boat

This simple song is great for small children as it involves a gentle rowing motion that they can easily follow.

Song Lyrics

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream,

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

7. Shake Your Sillies Out

A fun song that encourages kids to shake, jump, and move all around, helping them to burn off energy and get some exercise.

Song Lyrics

We’re gonna shake, shake, shake our sillies out,
Shake, shake, shake our sillies out,
Shake, shake, shake our sillies out,
And wiggle our waggles away.

We’re gonna clap, clap, clap our crazies out,
Clap, clap, clap our crazies out,
Clap, clap, clap our crazies out,
And wiggle our waggles away.

We’re gonna jump, jump, jump our jiggles out,
Jump, jump, jump our jiggles out,
Jump, jump, jump our jiggles out,
And wiggle our waggles away.

We’re gonna stretch, stretch, stretch our stretchies out,
Stretch, stretch, stretch our stretchies out,
Stretch, stretch, stretch our stretchies out,
And wiggle our waggles away.

We’re gonna yawn, yawn, yawn our sleepies out,
Yawn, yawn, yawn our sleepies out,
Yawn, yawn, yawn our sleepies out,
And wiggle our waggles away.

We’re gonna shake, shake, shake our sillies out,
Shake, shake, shake our sillies out,
Shake, shake, shake our sillies out,
And wiggle our waggles away.

And wiggle our waggles away,
And wiggle our waggles away!

8. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

This energetic song involves counting and jumping, making it both fun and educational for toddlers.

Song Lyrics

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Four little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

One little monkey jumping on the bed,
He fell off and bumped his head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

No little monkeys jumping on the bed,
None fell off and bumped their head,
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“Put those monkeys right to bed!”

9. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

While this song is more soothing, it can still include gentle hand movements to represent the twinkling stars, which can be very engaging for young children.

Song Lyrics

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are,

Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky,

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.

Popular Movement and Action Songs for Preschoolers and Kids

Preschool music and movement songs for preschoolers will cause your children to benefit from some fun action songs to help them with their movements and to learn a few things easily.

1. I’m a Little Teapot

Almost everyone knows this one; it is a cute action song that teaches children something practical, like how teapots work.

Song Lyrics 

I’m a little teapot
Short and Stout

Here is my handle,
Here is my spout

When I get all steamed up
Hear me shout

Tip me over
And pour me out.

2. Hop a Little, Jump a Little

Get the kids excited with this easy-to-follow action song.

Song Lyrics 

Hop a little, jump a little
One, two, three;
Run a little, skip a little

Tap on knee;
Bend a little, stretch a little,

Nod your head;
Yawn a little, sleep a little,
In your bed.

3. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Most preschool children still have plushies that they love, so this one will surely be appealing to them!

Song Lyrics

Now, for you all your teddy bears out there, it’s time to get up on your feet and get moving!

Yeehaw!
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Turn around

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Touch the ground

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Reach up high

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Touch the sky
Reach way up! Good job.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Find your nose

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Touch your toes

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Touch your knees

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Sit down, please

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
Sit down, please.

4. Miss Polly Had a Dolly

This is one of the action songs for kindergarten that introduces your kids to what happens when you fall sick.

Song Lyrics

Miss Polly had a dolly,
Who was sick, sick, sick,
So she called for the doctor,
To be quick, quick, quick.

The doctor came,
With his bag and his hat,
And he knocked at the door,
With a rat-a-tat-tat.

He looked at the dolly,
And he shook his head,
He said “Miss Polly,
Put her straight to bed.”

He wrote out a paper,
For a pill, pill, pill,
“I’ll be back in the morning,
Yes, I will will will.”

5. The Wheels on the Bus

Kids know what buses are and have even travelled on one. This is one of the more practical movement songs for kids.

Song Lyrics

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town
The horn on the bus goes beep beep beep, beep beep beep, beep beep beep
The horn on the bus goes beep beep beep, all through the town

Come on ride the bus HEY come on ride the bus with us
Come on ride the bus HEY come on ride the bus with us
The doors on the bus go open and shut, open and shut, open and shut
The doors on the bus go open and shut, all through the town

The people on the bus go up and down, up and down, up and down
The people on the bus go up and down, all through the town
Come on ride the bus HEY come on ride the bus with us
Come on ride the bus HEY come on ride the bus with us

The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish, swish swish swish, swish swish swish
The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish, all through the town
The lights on the bus go flash flash flash, flash flash flash, flash flash flash
The lights on the bus go flash flash flash, all through the town

Come on ride the bus HEY come on ride the bus with us
Come on ride the bus HEY come on ride the bus with us
The driver on the bus says move on back, move on back, move on back
The driver on the bus says move on back, all through the town

The petrol on the bus goes glug glug glug, glug glug glug, glug glug glug
The petrol on the bus goes glug glug glug, all through the town
Come on ride the bus HEY come on ride the bus with us
Come on ride the bus HEY come on ride the bus with us

The baby on the bus says waa waa waa, waa waa waa, waa waa waa
The baby on the bus says waa waa waa, all through the town
The Mummy on the bus says shh shh shh, shh shh shh, shh shh shh
The Daddy on the bus says shh shh shh, all through the town

Come on ride the bus HEY come on ride the bus with us
Come on ride the bus HEY come on ride the bus with us
The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town

Come on ride the bus HEY come on ride the bus with us
Come on ride the bus HEY come on ride the bus with us
The wheels on the bus go round!

6. Five Little Ducks

This is a delightful counting song that involves hand movements to represent the ducks swimming away and returning.

Song Lyrics

Five little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away,
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack.”
But only four little ducks came back.

(Continue counting down to one little duck)

One little duck went out one day,
Over the hills and far away,
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack.”
And all of the five little ducks came back.

7. Jungle Boogie Dance

This song encourages children to move like different animals in the jungle, making it both fun and educational.

Song Lyrics

Sing boom bodi boom boom!
Boom bodi boom boom!
Sing boom bodi boom pa boom!
Boom bodi boom pa boom!

Down in the jungle
where nobody goes
there’s a great big gorilla
washing his clothes
with a swish swash here
and a swish swash there.
That’s the way
he washes his clothes.

Boom bodi boom boom
boogie woogie boo!
Boom bodi boom boom
boogie woogie boo!
Boom bodi boom boom
boogie woogie boo!
That’s the way
he washes his clothes.

Down in the jungle
where nobody goes
there’s a slithery snake
washing his clothes
with a swish swash here
and a swish swash there.
That’s the way
he washes his clothes.

Boom bodi boom boom
boogie woogie boo!
Boom bodi boom boom
boogie woogie boo!
Boom bodi boom boom
boogie woogie boo!
That’s the way
he washes his clothes.

Boom bodi boom boom!
Boom bodi boom boom!
Boom bodi boom pa boom!
Boom bodi boom pa boom!

Down in the jungle
where nobody goes
there’s a great big crocodile
washing his clothes
with a swish swash here
and a swish swash there.
That’s the way
he washes his clothes.

Boom bodi boom boom
boogie woogie boo!
Boom bodi boom boom
boogie woogie boo!
Boom bodi boom boom
boogie woogie boo!
That’s the way
he washes his clothes.

8. The Eensy Weensy Spider

This is a beloved children’s nursery rhyme that engages young learners with its playful lyrics and interactive movements.

Song Lyrics

The eensy weensy spider
Went up the water spout.
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out.
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain,
So the eensy weensy spider
Went up the spout again!

Up and down, up and down,
Up and down, up and down.

The eensy weensy spider
Went up the water spout.
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out.
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain,
So the eensy weensy spider
Went up the spout again!

Now, the big big spider!

The big big spider
Went up the water spout.
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out.
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain,
So the big big spider
Went up the spout again!

9. Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon

This song is perfect for kids fascinated by space and involves fun countdowns and hand movements to simulate a rocket launch.

Song Lyrics

Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon,
Zoom zoom zoom, we’ll get there very soon
If you want to take a trip
Climb aboard the rocket ship
Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon

Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon,
Zoom zoom zoom, we’ll get there very soon
Engines starting, hear them roar
Higher, higher up we soar
Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon

Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon,
Zoom zoom zoom, we’ll get there very soon
Twinkling stars are shining bright
Shooting past us on our flight
Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon

Zoom zoom zoom, we’ve landed on the moon,
Zoom zoom zoom we’ve landed on the moon
Planet earth looks far away
Just a short time we can stay
Zoom zoom zoom, we visited the moon!

FAQs

1. Can action songs be adapted for children with special needs?

Yes, action songs can be adapted for children with special needs. Modifying the movements to suit individual abilities and incorporating visual aids can make these songs more inclusive. The repetitive nature of action songs can also be beneficial for children with developmental delays, helping them improve their motor skills and cognitive abilities.

2. What are some creative ways to integrate action songs into a daily routine?

Action songs can be integrated into daily routines in various creative ways. For instance, a morning song with corresponding movements can signal the start of the day, while a tidy-up song can make cleaning up more fun. Additionally, using action songs during transitions, such as moving from playtime to mealtime, can help children adjust more smoothly to changes in activities.

There are so many other action songs that have been made that can help you out with teaching your kids all sorts of skills and practical life lessons. These were just a few. Kids learn so much better when learning is fun, so make sure to incorporate a few action songs into their everyday life. Other than simply learning, action songs will also be a great way to keep your kids fit by giving them a bit of exercise, so be sure to choose a few action songs that involve jumping around as well. Your children will come away from the activity having learnt something new, having had some exercise and tired enough to remain calm. Action songs are a win for children as well as parents!

Also Read:

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Pop Songs for Children
Popular Camp Songs for Kids
Best Clean Up Songs for Children