Funny Songs for Kids Teaching Approximants
"This little piggy went to market…This little piggy went home…" Wiggling tiny little toes is part of the joy of singing and playing with little children. We even joke about learning to count with fingers and toes. But really we do learn this way! Parents begin the process of teaching their children from the time they are babies! Let's explore some fun kids counting songs.
Why are Counting Songs Important?
Kids learn through play. When they are having fun, they don't even realize they are learning. So singing songs and reciting rhymes that involve counting help children learn while they are having fun. In this article we will highlight some of the early nursery rhymes and fun songs that parents and teachers can learn and teach to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. I guarantee they will love to sing and move to these fun counting songs.
What are Some Counting to Five Songs?
Let's begin with your fingers. Kids learn to count to five first. One idea I like to share with parents is when you count to five using your fingers, count consistently. Start with your thumb and move to the pinky. These are the finger numbers for playing the piano, so always referring to thumb as finger number one, pointer finger as two, middle finger as three, ring finger as four, and pinky as five will help them later on if they begin taking piano lessons.
There are lots and lots of Youtube variations of these songs. I will link some quality teaching versions so you don't have to search for them! Personally, I like the less flashy entertainment kind of videos that kids like to watch because we want good teaching content… Ideas that teachers use to get the most out of teaching these songs. So watch these videos to the end. You get a lot of great ideas on HOW to sing these songs to kids so they are having fun and learning!
Five Little Ducks
Five little ducks counts backwards from five down to one. You can have your child keep track of how many ducks with their fingers which helps improve their fine motor skills. Or it is fun if you make some manipulatives like finger puppets to playact as you sing!
Five Little Ducks – 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.
Four little ducks
Went out one day
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said
"Quack, quack, quack, quack."
But only three little ducks came back.
Three little ducks
Went out one day
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said
"Quack, quack, quack, quack."
But only two little ducks came back.
Two little ducks
Went out one day
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said
"Quack, quack, quack, quack."
But only one little duck came back.
One little duck
Went out one day
Over the hills and far away
Mother duck said
"Quack, quack, quack, quack."
But none of the five little ducks came back.
Sad mother duck
Went out one day
Over the hills and far away
The sad mother duck said
"Quack, quack, quack."
And all of the five little ducks came back.
Five Little Ducks – VIDEO
This video from Super Simple Songs demonstrates motions for this song! I also like how they count the number of ducks at the end of each verse. Talking about safety and mother duck's concern for her little ducks is an additional teaching moment.
Five Green and Speckled Frogs (or Five Little Frogs)
Five Green and Speckled Frogs is similar to the Five Little Ducks song because it begins with 5 and counts backwards which is teaching subtraction.
Five Green and Speckled Frogs – Lyrics
FIVE green and speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs
Yum Yum.
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool
Then there were FOUR (subtract one each verse) speckled frogs.
Glug Glug.
(Repeat song using the number four, then three, then two, then one, then no in place of FIVE )
Five Green and Speckled Frogs – VIDEO
This video has helpful instruction on how to teach this song at the end of the song.
Alice the Camel
Make a Camel Craft
Make some fun camels using the number of humps your child wants! Fun activity!
Alice the Camel – VIDEO
Five Little Monkeys
I love to allow kids to play with props to this little nursery rhyme. First of all, monkeys are so cute. Kids love to watch them! And jumping is fun! So get some monkey stuffed animals, finger puppets, or just print some monkeys out on paper that children (or you) can cut out! Kids will love jumping these monkeys all around!
Fun Five Little Monkeys Craft Idea
This craft is definitely for a little bit older kids, but it looks so fun!
How to Teach "Five Little Monkeys" – VIDEO
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
We're going to the moon.
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
We're going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip,
Climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
We're going to the moon.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1,
Blast off!
What are Some Count to 10 Songs?
One Two Three Four Five
One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let it go again.
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on my right.
10 Little Indians
Ten Little Indians song is one of my favorite teaching songs because it very versatile. You can change the words to this song in numerous ways. And you can also count this song backwards. Here are the original song lyrics.
One little, two little, three little Indians
Four little, five little, six little Indians,
Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians,
Ten little Indian boys.
Here are a few examples of how I change the song lyrics while keeping the number counting and the melody the same.
Sing about FRIENDS… Ten little friends at the park or Ten little friends playing ball, etc.
BUBBLES! Ten little bubbles go pop!
BUGS! Ten little bugs fly away.
LEAVES! Ten autumn leaves on the ground.
RAINDROPS! Ten little raindrops on my head.
SNOWFLAKES! Ten little snowflakes on my tongue.
See what I mean? You can sing about practically anything! It's fun to let children brainstorm and come up with ideas. They love to create and when kids are invested in their own learning, learning is so much fun!
Ten in the Bed
Imagine a crowded bed. What is on that bed? Tons of stuffed animals? Lots of friends having a sleep over? Or it's a big, big family. No matter what you imagine is on the bed, you can collect 10 and reenact this song.
Early in the morning, kids are usually a little slow to get going. Having fun right at the start of the morning as you get your child ready for the day is so playful and fun. Singing and imaginative play gets the day started with lots of positive energy! If you start singing, your child might even sing along. They will definitely help you play by tossing some stuffed animals overboard to get from ten to one. And then get them back on the bed after the covers are all pulled up! What singing fun!
How to Teach "Ten in the Bed" – VIDEO
One Two Buckle My Shoe
One, two,
Buckle my shoe;
Three, four,
Knock at the door;
Five, six,
Pick up sticks;
Seven, eight,
Lay them straight:
Nine, ten,
A big fat hen;
This Old Man
Song with ASL Motions
American Sign Language counting video. Wonderful way to teach kids counting to ten in American Sign Language.
The Ants Go Marching
Ants Finger Puppet Craft for Kids
Other Fun Counting Songs
Bell Horses
I love teaching Bell Horses because there are other skills kids are learning besides counting, like ringing the bells while we sing the lyrics and then freezing (STOP!) while we count. You may have to demonstrate this, and actually teach the kids how to ring and freeze. It's really a lot of fun to have them watch y ou and freeze when you freeze! If we are also marching while we sing and ring, we freeze that too! This is so much fun for kids and it requires that they pay attention.
Bell Horses Ringing Demonstration – VIDEO
Here is a short demonstration of how we ring the bells while we sing and FREEZE! (or stop ringing) while we count. I always encourage kids to march while we sing and FREEZE (no moving at all) while we count. I do however, encourage them to count their fingers if the bells are on their wrists… so technically that is moving, but it's not moving their feet!
Fingerplay Counting Activities
Here is the Beehive
Here is the Beehive is a counting rhyme that counts to five. It really doesn't have a melody, but you could easily sing a sol-mi type of melody to the rhyme. This nursery rhyme is fun because at the end of the song you can buzzzzz….. and tickle a child under the chin with your fingers. Kids love little tickle rhymes and often beg for them over and over again.
I also created a little bumble bee music activity /piano improvisation page for preschoolers. If you are interested in this little piano activity, or the DIY Mother's Day piano activity I have created, follow the links on this page!
Here is the Beehive – VIDEO
This Little Piggy
While not an official counting song, "This Little Piggy" offers the opportunity for counting. There are other nursery rhymes that also can be adapted to counting as well. Once you get done wiggling the toes with the rhyme, go back and wiggle each toe and count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
One Potato Two Potato
One Potato Two Potatoes
One potato two potatoes
Three potatoes, four!
Five potatoes, six potatoes
Seven potatoes, more!
To count to ten add:
Eight potatoes, nine potatoes, ten potatoes all!
Five Fat Sausages
Five fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
(Hold up five fingers)
All of a sudden one went "BANG!"
(Clap hands loudly)
Four fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
(Hold up four fingers)
All of a sudden one went "BANG!"
Three fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
(Hold up three fingers)
All of a sudden one went "BANG!"
Two fat sausages sizzling in a pan,
(Hold up two fingers)
All of a sudden one went "BANG!"
One fat sausage, sizzling in a pan,
(Hold up one finger)
All of a sudden it went "Bang!"
And there were NO sausages left!
(No fingers left up)
Other songs kids can add numbers to
Finger Family Check out this link. While there is no actual counting in the song itself, it offers imagery that you can springboard from and then count the family members. Plus you use your hands, so counting is natural using fingers.
Baa Baa Black Sheep This song offers counting, 1, 2, 3 for the very youngest of children. It's also an easy song for kids to learn because it shares the same melody as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Mary Had a Little Lamb You can change the lyrics in this song to "Mary had some little lambs" and teach counting to various numbers of sheep.
Conclusion
I hope you find this list useful. Select your favorites and create some learning opportunities for your child.
And while you are at it, grab my printable, "Counting Songs for Toddlers and Preschoolers". In this printable you will find lyrics that you can use to help teach counting to your kids. Printables give parents and teachers confidence to teach these songs and will help you bring these songs to life! They encourage imagination, movement, motor skills, and so much more!
Join the Music Time Kid Community and get a FREE copy of this downloadable Counting Songs Booklet!
All of the songs from this blog post are included in the printable.
Source: https://musictimekid.com/kids-counting-songs
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