10 Movement Songs for Kids
by Stephanie Leavell
Sometimes, kids just need to move. At school, at home, in music therapy… giving them an opportunity to move can help regulate their sensory systems so they’re better prepared for learning, listening, getting along with their peers, working on their goals, etc. (Read more HERE….)
10 Songs for Dancing with Kids Ages 0-6
Spotify playlist available on the Resource List page.
All The Fish
All The Fish is a very catchy song by Caspbar Babypants that was just begging to be adapted to a longer movement song.
All The Fish
By Caspbar Babypants
C B C B
C
All the fish are swimming in the water
F
Swimming in the water
Fm
Swimming in the water
C
All the fish are swimming in the water
G
Bubble, bubble, bubble, POP!
Blowing In The Wind
(Scarf Song)
Bitty Bitty Bat
Chugga Chugga Choo Choo
by Stephanie Leavell
(Also in the Transportation Lesson Plan.)
Get the chords/lyrics HERE.
Get the notated leadsheet HERE.
Copy Me
by Stephanie Leavell
G C
Copy me, copy me
D
Everybody copy me
G C
Copy me, copy me
D G
Let’s all copy me
(sub in other names)
Let’s Toss It (Toss The Beat)
by Stephanie Leavell
Let's toss it, let's toss it, let's toss the beat
You play a beat and toss it to me
Get the notated leadsheet HERE.
Little Baby Octopus
by Stephanie Leavell
C C G G x2
C G
Little baby octopus swimming in the sea
C F C
Eight little legs are swimming toward me
C F G C G C
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 little legs are swimming toward me
(Change action!)
F C G
So jump right in and swim swim swim
F C G
To the other side of the ocean
F C G
So jump right in and swim swim swim
Am G C Am G C
In the deep blue ocean, in the deep blue ocean
Get the notated leadsheet HERE.
Move It, Move It!
Move To The Beat (the sitting movement song)
by Stephanie Leavell
This movement song is designed to be a sitting movement song. It’s the perfect song to use when kids have a high energy level but you’re worried that a standing movement song will be too stimulating. They can get their wiggles out in a more structured way.
This song also uses my favorite trick for kids ages 3-6… when they’re talking a lot and not engaged in what you’re doing, do a song that requires them to wiggle their eyebrows! It’s AMAZING to watch a whole group of 25 kids go completely silent as they try to do so.
Find the chords HERE.
Get the notated lead sheet HERE.
The downloadable mp3 is available below.
Movement Song Game/Template
Download the PDF HERE.
Open Up And Read A Book
Finger Play
Peel Banana
Peel Banana is an adaptation of a little banana ditty I heard on TV in the UK. It was so catchy that I turned it into its own movement song!
Check out the “Lesson Plan” section for our Banana Lesson Plan!
Silly Dance Contest
Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill (I say Raffi in the video— oops!!!) is one of my favorites. I think it’s even more effective in a group with this simple B section to change things up and shift the focus before returning back to the theme.
B section:
F C
Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle
F C
Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle
F C
Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle
G
FREEZE (x2)
Soy Una Serpiente (I am a snake)
Spanish
Soy una serpiente
Que anda por el bosque
Buscando una parte de su cola
¿Quiere ser usted una parte de mi cola?
Translation:
I am a snake
That walks through the forest
Looking for a part of my tail
Do you want to be a part of my tail?
The Goldfish Song
by Laurie Berkner
This A Way, That A Way
This A Way, That A Way is a fantastic movement song by Ladybug Music. It’s a definite favorite in my preschool-2nd grade groups!
Walk Walk Walk
by Stephanie Leavell
Walk, Walk, Walk is a great transitional movement song. In other words, it’s great to use immediately following a more active movement song to help kids transition to a less active activity. This is probably the most useful song in my toolbox!
Find the lyrics HERE.
Get the notated lead sheet HERE.
The downloadable mp3 is available below.
Wandering Song
by Stephanie Leavell
G
This is my wandering song
C
this is my wandering song
G C G C
I wander and wander a minute more
G C D G
and then I walk back and sit on the floor
(B section)
C G
I’m wandering, I’m wandering
D
‘cause this is my wandering song
C G
I’m wandering, I’m wandering
D
‘cause this is my wandering song
Get the notated leadsheet HERE.
Wiggle A Lot
Wiggle A Lot is a medium-speed movement song that has a nice groove and a cool chord progression.
Find the chords HERE.
The downloadable mp3 is available below.
Yoga Song
by Stephanie Leavell
Yoga Song: I Am Strong
Get the chords/lyrics HERE.
You Can Do It Anyway
(Body Percussion Song)
by Stephanie Leavell
Zoom Gives Me The Zoomies
by Stephanie Leavell
Get the chords/lyrics HERE.
(Download the audio file below!)
