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Looking for popular preschool songs to sing with your child? Here are 85 favorites that American preschoolers sing at home, in the car, and in the classroom, organized into 11 song types. Each song type has its own page with what every song teaches, how to sing and move along, and answers to common questions.
- 85 songs
- Ages 3–5
- 11 song types
- Actions and ideas for every song
About the lyrics: this page lists song titles, what each song teaches, and ways to use it. It does not reprint lyrics. You can find the words and recordings in children’s songbooks, at your local library, or on official channels from the artists and publishers. Many of these songs are traditional, and versions can differ from place to place.
Browse Songs by Type
Nursery Rhymes
These timeless songs are often a child’s first songs. Their steady beats and simple rhymes help preschoolers hear the sounds in words and remember what comes next.
See the songs → 1010 songsAction Songs
Action songs get children moving while they learn body parts, directions, and listening skills. They are great for burning off energy and for transitions.
See the songs → 77 songsFinger Plays
Finger plays build hand strength, finger control, and early math. They’re quick, need no supplies, and work anywhere, from the grocery line to the car.
See the songs → 99 songsCounting Songs
Counting songs turn numbers into a story. Counting down songs also give children a first feel for subtraction, since one goes away each time.
See the songs → 77 songsAlphabet and Language Songs
Songs make letters and sounds easier to remember. These favorites help children hear how words are put together.
See the songs → 77 songsAnimal and Nature Songs
Animals and weather are favorite topics for preschoolers. These songs build vocabulary, animal sounds, and early science ideas.
See the songs → 77 songsTransportation Songs
Vehicles are a favorite topic for many preschoolers. These songs are full of sounds, actions, and counting, and they’re a good chance to talk about safety on the road.
See the songs → 77 songsRoutine, Transition, and Friendship Songs
Songs make daily routines smoother. A familiar song can help your child move from play to clean-up, from morning to circle time, or from school to home.
See the songs → 66 songsLullabies and Calm-Down Songs
Quiet songs help children relax before rest time or bed. They’re also great for calming big feelings.
See the songs → 66 songsCircle and Singing Games
Singing games combine music with movement and rules. They help children take turns, listen, and play together.
See the songs → 77 songsSongs for Colors, Shapes, Days, and More
Concept songs turn colors, shapes, days, weather, and the senses into something children can sing and remember.
See the songs →Why Songs Matter for Preschoolers
Singing is one of the easiest ways to build language and listening skills. Songs repeat words and sounds, which helps children remember them. They also have a beat, so children practice rhythm, movement, and taking turns. The CDC lists saying some words from a song, story, or rhyme as a typical skill at age 4, and singing, dancing, or acting for a family member as typical at age 5. Recognizing simple rhymes is also on the age 5 list.
Language
Songs add new words and repeat phrases, so children practice speaking clearly.
Early reading
Rhymes and rhythm help children hear the sounds in words, a skill that supports reading.
Math
Counting songs and patterns introduce numbers, counting down, and sequences.
Movement
Action songs build balance, coordination, and body awareness.
Feelings and friendship
Group songs help children take turns, share, and feel they belong.
Calm and routine
Familiar songs signal transitions, like clean-up, and soothe children at bedtime.
Quick Picks: All Songs at a Glance
Find a song by type and main skill. Each name links to its page with ideas for using it.
| # | Song | Type | Main skill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star | Nursery rhyme | Rhythm |
| 2 | Mary Had a Little Lamb | Nursery rhyme | Story order |
| 3 | Baa, Baa, Black Sheep | Nursery rhyme | Question and answer |
| 4 | Humpty Dumpty | Nursery rhyme | Rhyme |
| 5 | Hickory Dickory Dock | Nursery rhyme | Counting |
| 6 | Jack and Jill | Nursery rhyme | Rhyme |
| 7 | Hey Diddle Diddle | Nursery rhyme | Imagination |
| 8 | Little Miss Muffet | Nursery rhyme | Feelings |
| 9 | Row, Row, Row Your Boat | Nursery rhyme | Steady beat |
| 10 | Pop Goes the Weasel | Nursery rhyme | Listening |
| 11 | London Bridge Is Falling Down | Singing game | Cooperation |
| 12 | Jack Be Nimble | Nursery rhyme | Jumping |
| 13 | Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes | Action song | Body parts |
| 14 | If You’re Happy and You Know It | Action song | Feelings |
| 15 | The Hokey Pokey | Action song | Left and right |
| 16 | I’m a Little Teapot | Action song | Body control |
| 17 | Shake Your Sillies Out | Action song | Self-control |
| 18 | Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear (Turn Around) | Action chant | Following directions |
| 19 | We’re Going on a Bear Hunt | Chant and story | Sequencing |
| 20 | I’m Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee | Action song | Silly language |
| 21 | The Ants Go Marching | Action song | Counting |
| 22 | Miss Mary Mack | Clapping game | Rhythm |
| 23 | The Itsy Bitsy Spider | Finger play | Sequencing |
| 24 | Where Is Thumbkin? | Finger play | Finger names |
| 25 | Pat-a-Cake | Clapping rhyme | Rhythm |
| 26 | Here Is the Beehive | Finger play | Counting |
| 27 | Two Little Blackbirds | Finger play | Counting |
| 28 | Open, Shut Them | Finger play | Opposites |
| 29 | Finger Family (Daddy Finger) | Finger play | Family words |
| 30 | Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed | Counting song | Counting down |
| 31 | Five Little Ducks | Counting song | Counting down |
| 32 | Five Green and Speckled Frogs | Counting song | Counting down |
| 33 | Ten in the Bed | Counting song | Counting down from 10 |
| 34 | This Old Man | Counting song | Counting to 10 |
| 35 | One, Two, Buckle My Shoe | Counting rhyme | Counting |
| 36 | One, Two, Three, Four, Five (Once I Caught a Fish Alive) | Counting rhyme | Counting |
| 37 | Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree | Counting song | Counting down |
| 38 | Over in the Meadow | Counting song | Counting to 10 |
| 39 | The Alphabet Song | Alphabet song | Letter names |
| 40 | B-I-N-G-O | Spelling song | Letter recognition |
| 41 | Apples and Bananas | Sound-play song | Vowel sounds |
| 42 | Down by the Bay | Rhyming song | Rhyme |
| 43 | Willoughby Wallaby Woo | Name song | Beginning sounds |
| 44 | Boom Chicka Boom | Echo song | Listening |
| 45 | Peanut Butter and Jelly | Chant with actions | Rhythm |
| 46 | Old MacDonald Had a Farm | Animal song | Animal sounds |
| 47 | The Farmer in the Dell | Singing game | Sequencing |
| 48 | Baby Shark | Modern action song | Family words |
| 49 | The Bear Went Over the Mountain | Singing song | Sequencing |
| 50 | Slippery Fish | Action song | Sequencing |
| 51 | Rain, Rain, Go Away | Nursery rhyme | Weather words |
| 52 | Mister Sun | Nature song | Weather |
| 53 | The Wheels on the Bus | Action song | Sounds |
| 54 | Down by the Station | Train song | Sounds |
| 55 | Little Red Caboose | Train song | Repetition |
| 56 | I’ve Been Working on the Railroad | Folk song | Rhythm |
| 57 | Hurry, Hurry, Drive the Fire Truck | Action rhyme | Action words |
| 58 | Zoom, Zoom, Zoom (We’re Going to the Moon) | Countdown chant | Counting down |
| 59 | Engine, Engine, Number Nine | Rhythm chant | Rhythm |
| 60 | Clean-Up Song | Transition song | Routines |
| 61 | Good Morning to You | Greeting song | Names |
| 62 | See You Later, Alligator | Goodbye chant | Rhyme |
| 63 | The More We Get Together | Friendship song | Belonging |
| 64 | Skidamarink | Affection song | Feelings |
| 65 | Hello Song | Greeting song (many versions) | Names |
| 66 | Handwashing Song | Routine song (many versions) | Hygiene |
| 67 | Hush, Little Baby | Lullaby | Calming |
| 68 | Brahms’ Lullaby (Lullaby and Goodnight) | Lullaby | Calming |
| 69 | You Are My Sunshine | Comfort song | Bonding |
| 70 | Are You Sleeping? (Frère Jacques) | Round | Rounds |
| 71 | Sleep, Baby, Sleep | Lullaby | Calming |
| 72 | Rock-a-Bye Baby | Lullaby | Calming |
| 73 | Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush | Circle game | Daily routines |
| 74 | Skip to My Lou | Dance song | Rhythm |
| 75 | The Muffin Man | Question song | Question and answer |
| 76 | Oats, Peas, Beans, and Barley Grow | Action song | Farm words |
| 77 | A-Tisket, A-Tasket | Singing game | Listening |
| 78 | Bluebird, Bluebird, Through My Window | Singing game | Patterns |
| 79 | I Can Sing a Rainbow | Color song | Colors |
| 80 | Do-Re-Mi | Music song | Pitch |
| 81 | Months of the Year Song | Concept song | Sequencing |
| 82 | Days of the Week Song | Concept song | Sequencing |
| 83 | The Weather Song | Concept song (many versions) | Weather words |
| 84 | The Shape Song | Concept song (many versions) | Shapes |
| 85 | The Five Senses Song | Concept song (many versions) | Senses |
How to Teach a New Song
- Listen first.Play or sing the whole song once while your child just listens and watches.
- Add simple actions.Make up easy motions for key words. Actions help children remember the words.
- Sing it slowly.Sing at a slow, steady pace so your child can follow, and repeat the chorus.
- Pause for them.Stop before a rhyming word or action and let your child fill it in.
- Repeat often.Sing the same song for several days. Repetition is how children learn.
- Add your own twist.Change the animal, the name, or the action to keep it fresh and fun.
Songs by Purpose
Need a song for a certain moment? Start here.
8 Tips for Singing with Preschoolers
Sing every day
A few minutes of singing a day is better than a long session once a week.
Add actions
Hand motions and body movements help children remember words.
Use props
Puppets, scarves, and paper cutouts make songs more fun and easy to remember.
Repeat favorites
Children learn through repetition. Singing the same song again and again is a good thing.
Follow their lead
Let your child choose the next song, the next animal, or the next action.
Keep it short
Pick 2 or 3 songs for a session and stop while your child is still enjoying it.
Don’t worry about your voice
Children love hearing you sing, no matter how it sounds.
Make up verses
Change the words to match your child’s day, like the foods they ate or the animals they saw.
Pair Songs with Games and Activities
- Music, songs, and story activities
- Movement activities
- Letter activities
- Preschool learning games
- 12-month curriculum
Preschool Songs FAQs
Why are songs good for preschoolers?
Songs build language, memory, rhythm, and listening skills. They repeat words and sounds, which helps children remember them. The CDC lists saying words from a song or rhyme as a typical skill at age 4, and singing, dancing, or acting for others as typical at age 5.
What are the most popular preschool songs in the United States?
Some of the best-known are The Wheels on the Bus, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, If You’re Happy and You Know It, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, The Alphabet Song, Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, and Baby Shark.
How many songs should my preschooler know?
There is no set number. It’s better to know a handful of songs well than many songs only a little. Repeat favorites often and add new ones slowly.
Where can I find the lyrics and recordings?
Check children’s songbooks and your local library, and look for official channels from the artists and publishers. These pages list titles and ideas but do not reprint lyrics.
Do I need to be a good singer?
No. Children love hearing their parents sing, and they care about the fun, not the pitch. Keep it relaxed and playful.
How long should a singing session last?
Aim for 5 to 15 minutes, with 2 or 3 songs. The CDC lists paying attention for 5 to 10 minutes as typical at age 5, so short sessions work best. Stop while your child is still enjoying it.
What if my child won’t sing along?
Try clapping, dancing, or using a puppet instead. Some children listen and move for a while before they join in. Join in without pressure and keep singing.
Are videos okay for learning songs?
Videos count toward screen time. The CDC suggests no more than 1 hour a day for ages 4 and 5, of a children’s program with an adult present. Live singing with actions is usually more interactive.
Can I share these songs in a classroom or post videos online?
Singing at home or in a classroom is fine for most traditional songs. If you perform publicly or post recordings, some songs and recordings are protected by copyright, so check permissions or choose traditional songs. This is general information, not legal advice.
Keep the Music Going
Pair these songs with free printables, learning games, and our 12-month preschool curriculum.
Sources
This guide is general educational information for parents. It is not medical or legal advice. Always supervise young children during movement activities. If you are concerned about your child’s development, talk with your child’s doctor or teacher.