Circle Time
I personally prefer to sing songs that most parents know well and can sing without musical accompaniment. I find it simpler and less stressful for most participants. However, some people like to use favorite children’s albums or films to teach songs to the children.
Children love repetition. Don’t be afraid to sing the same song four or five times as long as the children are still interested. When 75% of your audience hops back up and shouts, “Again!”–go ahead and do it again. It is more important to keep the children enthusiastic and excited about music than to get through all of the songs.
In our program, we switch themes every month or so. Below are some of the songs we have used for Circle time along with ideas for props or motions to do with some of them. The Children’s Songbook is a great resource for fun songs. Where applicable, I have included the page number in The Children’s Songbook.
- The Itsy Bitsy Spider
- Rain, Rain Go Away - We opened an umbrella and let the children take turns standing under it while we sang the song with their name.
- Once There was a Snowman (249)
- Rain is Falling All Around (241)
- I’ve Been Working on the Railroad
- ABC’s
- 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
- 5 Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree–Make monkey finger puppets and use an Alligator puppet to “eat” the monkeys off the fingers of the kids.
- 5 Little Speckled Frogs
- I’m so Glad when Daddy Comes Home
- Happy Family (198)
- Ring Around the Rosy
- This little Piggy
- Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (275)
- Where is Thumbkin?
- Two little Blackbirds
- Roll Your Hands (274)
- When We’re Helping (198)
- Sing a Song (253)
- Fun to Do (253)
- Happy Song (264)–Kids love props on this one, like rubber duckies and toy birds.
- Smiles (267)
- If You’re Happy (266)–Use the kid’s natural wiggles to supplement the song. For instance, if they all want to jump up and down, sing about jumping up an down. If they want to spin in circles, sing about spinning. The kids will love the song even more if it is about them.
- My Hands (273)–This is a good one to use if you want to segue from an interactive period to a more “quiet and listen” segment.
- Do As I’m Doing (276)–Again, remember to let the children’s movements inspire the singing. This is also a good song to use in movement time.
- Hinges (277)
- This little Piggy…
- Popcorn Popping (242)
- Jingle Bells–Give each child a “jingle bell” and have them shake it during the chorus. For small children, sing only chorus.
- I am Glad for Many Things (151)
