Do you make it a point to sing silly songs with your kids? You should!
Singing silly songs isn’t just fun and games. It’s actually really beneficial for your kids. They can learn a lot as they belt out crazy song lyrics. And it’s a fun way to bond as a family.
Still not convinced? Here are five reasons why you should make it a point to regularly sing silly songs with your kids.
1. You Can Make Memories
Most of the silly songs I know, I learned in third grade. My teacher that year was awesome, and frequently played his guitar and taught us new songs. (He’s now got a YouTube channel, so you can sing along with him!)
Whenever I hear these tunes, my mind instantly plops me back into a desk in elementary school. Songs are powerful. Singing together can help build memories that will last your child throughout their life.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money or go on grand adventures to make memories. Embrace the little moments and make the most of them.
Your children will remember…
2. Your Child Can Practice Listening Skills
The first time I sang, “Mama’s Soup Surprise” to my kids, they were all shocked. They sat looking at each other asking themselves some variation of, “What did Mom just say?”
Then they asked me to sing it again so they could listen more carefully. So I did. And they were just as grossed out as I hoped they’d be. 😀
Silly song lyrics are often crazy. And your kids will want to learn the catchy tunes, so they’ll have to listen.
Music as a whole encourages kids to listen. And listening attentively is an essential soft skill.
3. When You Sing Silly Songs You Are Having Screen Free Fun
Once you learn the words and tunes to silly songs, you don’t need a screen to sing. You just need your voice.
I’ve heard my kids singing silly songs while they’re bouncing on the trampoline or playing on our play set.
We’ve had silly song contests where everyone took a turn singing the silliest song they could think of. One of my daughters even made prizes for this fun competition.
Silly songs can be sung for a long time. There are so many. So, they’re a fun activity to add to your screen free rotation.
4. You Can Strengthen Language Skills
As kids listen to and sing silly songs, they’ll learn more about the English language. They’ll discover new ways to combine words, and learn new vocabulary words.
You probably won’t ever talk about buzzard eggs and salamander thighs in a random conversation, but these words are in a song. This will expose your child to the concept that birds lay eggs and animals share similar body parts.
Silly songs typically use phrases and words that are uncommon, which is part of what makes them silly. They also typically contain rhyming words.
They’re the perfect alternative to boring worksheets if you have a child who needs some rhyming practice. They’re also fun for any children struggling to make rhymes.
So sing away and share more of our language with your kids!
Want more fun ways to teach language skills through play? Check out my early reading curriculum Teaching Reading Through Play.
5. Silly Songs Encourage Creativity
Singing silly songs gets your mind rolling. You can make up your own words to go with the tune, the sillier the better.
This is especially true for a song like Down by the Bay where singers become active participants by adding their own verses. Here are a few examples of ones my kids came up recently:
Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow. Back to my home, I dare not go. For if I do, my mother will say, did you ever see a:
- Cat lying on a mat
- Dragon flying in a wagon
- Pig dancing a jig
- Fox wearing toe socks
- Bee drinking a cuppa tea
Down by the bay…
Songs like this can go on for as long as interest lasts. They’re a great way to get your kids thinking creatively.
What can you come up with? Try to make silly verses for other songs. You’ll probably all be laughing before too long!
Top Tips for Singing Silly Songs with Kids
Now that you know why you should sing silly songs with your kids, here are some tips to help you do it.
1. Know When to Sing Silly Songs
Think you can’t fit silly songs into your schedule? I promise that you can! It doesn’t take long to sing a song or two, and you can add singing to your daily routines.
You can sing silly songs with your kids anytime. My family often sings them in the car. Or when we’re walking.
We’ve even been known to start singing while we’re doing chores. It’s a simple way to make work more fun.
So gather your kids and sing some silly songs.
2. Take Time to Memorize Silly Songs
Once you learn some silly songs, you can sing them anywhere, which makes number one easier. So start memorizing them together. Start off slowly. Pick one to start with. Then when you know it add another.
Songs are much easier to memorize than spoken words. The brain identifies with the rhythm and tune. Also, songs are easy and fun to sing over and over. Repetition helps with memory.
Before you know it, your kids will be singing along. Even if you just started learning the song. I’ve been amazed at how quickly all my kids pick up on songs we memorize, even the youngsters!
3. Encourage Your Kids to Sing Silly Songs
Your kids might be shy about singing at first. Especially if they’re a bit older. Or easily embarrassed. So make it a point to not sing in public (at least not yet). And encourage your kids to sing with you.
But, don’t force it. If they don’t want to sing, they don’t have to. They can just listen. It might take some repetition, but before you know it, most kids will be humming along or even singing right there with you.
And if they don’t, that’s okay. You can still benefit from singing silly songs. It’s good to laugh!
What Silly Songs Are There?
As I mentioned earlier, most of the silly songs I sing with my kids, I learned when I was in elementary school. And I still know the words to most of them…
I loved singing them then, and it’s been fun teaching them to the kids.
Here are some of our favorites:
- Mama’s Soup Surprise (yes, it’s little gross…but it’s sure fun!)
- There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (great repetitive song to build language practice.)
- There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea (A repetitive song that ends up right back where it starts)
- There’s a Hole in My Bucket (Another one that ends at the beginning!)
- The Other Day I Met a Bear (There’s also a version about a Bear in Tennis Shoes…)
- Down By the Bay (Really works on rhyming!)
- Baby Bumblebee (Ew! Who would even think to pick up a bee to take home???)
- Boom Boom, Aint’ It Great to Be Crazy? (Love it!)
- I’m Being Eaten By a Boa Constrictor (A great what if scenario to spark discussion afterwards!)
- Do Your Ears Hang Low? (There are actions to go with this one though this video doesn’t show them.)
- Flea Fly (it’s sort of a singing tongue twister with some fabulous nonsense words)
- On Top of Spaghetti (Lots of variations of this one)
- Going on a Lion Hunt (the sound effects make it fun)
- John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt (I might not have spelled that one right! But it’s so fun to sing each verse a bit quieter than you did before, and then all shout the chorus.)
What Silly Songs Do You Love?
Did you sing silly songs as a kid, or sing them with your kids today? I’d love to have you share your favorites in the comments!
This post was first published back in 2016. It’s been updated and refreshed.
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