Learn to TEACH English with TECHNOLOGY. Free course for American TESOL students.


TESOL certification course online recognized by TESL Canada & ACTDEC UK.

Visit Driven Coffee Fundraising for unique school fundraising ideas.





Texas ISD School Guide
Texas ISD School Guide







Short Stories for Teachers

What Can Young Children Learn From Preschool Songs?
By:Jennifer Carpenter

Preschool songs are an invaluable resource when it comes to young children. Through preschool songs, young kids can learn many different basic and personal skills. The following article discusses the lessons that young children can learn from songs as well as naming a few ideal tunes for each category.
Numbers And Counting There are a great many preschool songs dedicated to counting and numbers. By putting the skill of counting to a snappy tune, young children are much more able to memorize and repeat back the numbers. Some popular songs for preschoolers that involve numbers and counting are Hickory Dickory Doc, Ten Little Monkeys (Beware: you will have to sing this one again and again because kids never seem to tired of it), 100 Bottles Of Pop (the non-alcoholic version of 100 bottles of beer on the wall. Consider counting by tens for young children with limited attention spans), and One, Two, Buckle My Shoe. However my favorite counting song is The Ants Go Marching, which is a rather long song and best for walks with young children.

Letters And Spelling Probably the most popular letter song is the Alphabet Song although it is by far not the only song that can help teach young children letters and spelling. Just like with the counting songs, letter songs make a basic skill that is often difficult for children to learn and makes it simpler. Well-known letter and spelling songs include Bingo, The Alphabet letter/sound/word Song (sung to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle) and Apples and Bananas (a vowel sound song). There are also many different versions of alphabet rhymes and songs that teach preschool-age children the order of the alphabet.

Body Parts Studies have shown that teaching young children to identify their body parts strengthens their sense of self and raises self-confidence and independence. Not only that but most body part songs are activity songs, which encourage movement. And best of all, they are really fun to sing! Most preschool children know Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes along with The Hokey Pokey. Other popular choices for teaching young children the parts of their body include Ten Little Fingers, Thumbkin, and If You're Happy And You Know It (which is my personal favorite).

Although it is important that young children learn the lessons we've already discussed, preschool songs also teach kids the very important lesson that learning can be fun and that it is okay to be silly once in a while. Using preschool songs to teach young children basic skills not only makes it easier, it also makes it enjoyable. This can be a vital first step in creating a joy of learning in your young child.

For more information on preschool songs as well as the lyrics to the songs mentioned in the article, visit http://www.squidoo.com/preschoolsongs/

Jennifer Carpenter is a work at home mother of three, two teens and a preschooler. She is a writer and Internet marketer who is currently working towards financial freedom through working online. Read more about her incredible journey at http://www.livingmybigdream.com






Go to another board -