Tag Archives: simple songs for children

Everybody Has A Farm, E-I-E-I-O!

Don’t you just love those easy folksongs that can be personalized to delight your family or your classroom?

Here are some simple instructions for turning “Old McDonald” into a song that everyone can participate in.

Good Old McDonald

In case you’re unfamiliar with this “oldie but goodie”, here are the standard set of lyrics:

daria and sheep PMOld McDonald Had A Farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on this farm he had a (name an animal) E-I-E-I-O
With a (animal sound x2) here                      and a (animal sound x2) there
Here a (animal sound), there an (animal sound)
Everywhere an (animal sound x2)
Old McDonald Had A Farm, E-I-E-I-O

 

For instance, if you chose a “sheep”, like the friendly sheep in the picture here, it would be:

Old McDonald Had A Farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on this farm he had a sheep – E-I-E-I-O
With a baah baah here, and a baah baah there
Here a baah, there a baah …
Everywhere a baah, baah!
Old McDonald Had A Farm, E-I-E-I-O

Repeat as much as you like with any animal you wish to add.

My Friend Sandy Has A Farm

pollitosIf you’re singing to a group or a class, sit everyone in a circle and go from child to child, letting each one pick an animal for his or her verse.  You can ask the whole group to come up with the animal sounds.

Two quick suggestions.  If you think you may have run out of animals for the song, remember that you can use the names for the full grown animal and baby animal or the names for the male and female animal as well. For instance, you sing about both horse and pony, sheep and lambs, cows and calves, etc.  And don’t forget hens, chicks and roosters or billy goats and nanny goats, too!

With names, the only tricky situations are using names with three syllables or more.  In that case, drop the “My Friend” and simply use their name to fit within the first line of the song.  In other words, instead of “My friend Isabella”, or “My friend Jeremiah” try… Isabella has a farm… or Jeremiah has a farm, E-I-E-I-O and it should fit perfectly!

Your Family Farm

Here’s a fun family version of Old McDonald.  It uses the same idea, but you ask the child which animals a family member might want to have on their own fantasy farm.  In that way, the child gets to imagine what other people would want as their favorite farm animal.

It might sound like this:

If my sister, had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
On her farm she’d have some kittens, E-I-E-I-O (etc.)

If my brother, had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
On his farm he’d have a dinosaur, E-I-E-I-O (etc.)

If my mommy had a farm,
On her farm she’d have a parrot, E-I-E-I-O (etc.)

If my daddy had a farm,
On her farm he’d have a puppy, E-I-E-I-O (etc.)

An Animal Rescue Farm

Which brings us to a good point.  Kids love to imagine and this song can be very imaginative.  Feel free to sing your own barnyard version, animal rescue version or even an imaginary animal version.  Unicorns and dragons, anyone?

Need Music?

Naturally if you play guitar, piano, ukulele or a similar instrument, it’s awesome to strum out the music.  Below is a link for free sheet music for guitar.  But if you don’t, no worries.  Everyone knows the melody and you can easily, clap, tap, tap on desks or play simple percussion (like shaker eggs) along with this song.

Need some simple instrument or percussion ideas?  Below are four suggestions all made from handy items found in your kitchen or recycling bin.  So tap and clap away as you create some memorable music and a fantastic farm or animal song for your lovely little ones!

Links and Resources

DIY Shaker Eggs
http://www.tinytappingtoes.com/early-learning-with-music/a-child-safe-version-of-easter-shaker-eggs-directions-in-english-and-spanish/

Milk Jug Shekere
http://www.tinytappingtoes.com/classroom-music/turn-a-milk-jug-into-a-recycled-shekere/

Nature Walk Rattle
http://www.tinytappingtoes.com/early-learning-with-music/make-an-earth-day-nature-walk-rattle/

Make Your Own Maracas
http://www.tinytappingtoes.com/uncategorized/an-easy-musical-craft-for-young-children-back-to-school-maracas/

Old McDonald – Free Sheet Music For Guitar
http://www.8notes.com/scores/15036.asp

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Posted in Classroom Music, Early Learning With Music, Family Fun, Favorite Songs, Homeschool Musical Fun

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Music in the Early (Learning) Years – Fun for Both Parents and Children!

Sometimes parents feel a bit intimidated about singing to their young child.  This wonderful post from music therapist, JoAnn Jordan emphasizes that you don’t have to “be perfect” but can focus on having fun with your child in simple ways that  encourage both creativity and learning!

 

Across the United States many communities will host special events April 22-28, 2012 as part of Week of the Young Child™. The National Association for the Education of Young Children has set this year’s theme as ”Early Years are Learning Years.” Parents and other adults in regular contact with a child are their first teachers. Through caring, supportive relationships with adults providing face-to-face interactions the basic skills for learning are developed.

A 1998 position paper by the International Reading Association and the National Association for the Education of Young Children indicates infants and toddler benefit from:

1.    Simple language paired with eye contact along with responses to a child’s vocalizations and physical responses.

2.    Frequent opportunities for play and song.

3.    Regular exposure to reading and books.

Music is one way you can support this development. Singing familiar songs easily supports simple language. Daria has a great collection of songs you can use. Once you have learned a song, sing without the recording. This allows you to change the speed (tempo), add opportunities for child to start a word or sound, and to change the lyrics.

Play can also be found in songs. Songs like “Ring Around the Rosie”,  “Pop Goes the Weasel” and “The Holey Pokey” are just a few examples of game songs.  For babies and toddlers there are games like peek-a-boo to which a song can be added. For example, the words to “Where is Thumbkin?” could easily be changed to:

Where is (insert child’s name)?

Where is (insert child’s name)?

There you are. There you are. (Remove the cover as you sing.)

I’m glad I found you. I’m glad I found you.

My dear child. My dear child.

There are many books based upon song lyrics such as “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Fiddle-I-Fee”. In addition, there are many books that can be sung. Lists of these books can be found on many sights including this post on Music Sparks.

Remember, perfection in singing is not required for your child to benefit for music. Rather, it is the face-to-face interaction that is key. Go ahead and add a little music to your speaking, playing and reading with your child. Music in these early learning years is fun.

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JoAnn Jordan is a board certified music therapist with over 25 years of experience. She specializes in working with preschoolers and older adults. Her passion is bringing these two age groups together with music experiences. To learn more about music therapy and to see some of JoAnn’s resources visit her site www.music2spark.com .

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Posted in Babies and Music, Early Learning With Music, Favorite Songs

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