10 Awesome Action Songs for Children
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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.
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 actions songs, but you can be sure that there are also some other rather important benefits of 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.
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!
Popular Movement and Action Songs for Preschoolers and Kids
Preschool music and movement songs 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 also 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!
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:
Dance Songs for Children
Good Morning Songs for Children
Fun Music Games and Activities for Children
