How Songs Support Early Language Skills (with examples + a free printable!)

Songs are one of my favourite ways to support early language skills (despite the fact that I have a terrible singing voice!). Singing songs and nursery rhymes with our little ones is an easy way to put language strategies into action with such little effort. Songs naturally allow us to engage in emphasis and repetition and, when sung repeatedly, help us to create verbal routines with our toddlers (more about verbal routines here). Songs also allow us to model pre-verbal skills like gestures to help set the foundation for words later on. But most of all, I love that songs create a relaxed atmosphere that turns down the pressure and dials up the fun. Songs don't have to be perfect, and I promise you that your voice won't matter to your toddlers.

I have summarized six of my favourite songs for supporting early language skills with quick tips on how you can explicitly support language while singing them. I've also included a Song Choice Board that you can print to provide your toddler with choices, once they've become familiar with the songs (toddlers love autonomy!).

1. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star: A classic song in the nursery rhyme archives. This one is quick, memorable and easy to supplement with gestures (think wavy fingers for stars, arms up for 'up' and fingers together for 'diamond'). I also love how easy it is to use to let toddlers fill-in-the-blank. It looks like this: sing 'twinkle twinkle little..." and WAIT for your toddler to fill in the blank (once they're familiar with the song). If they don't, no problem! Simply model the word with emphasis and carry on singing!
   

2. The Itsy Bitsy Spider: this song always reminds me of diaper changes because I use it as a distraction when my daughter does not want to be changed. Toddlers love when you climb up their bodies like spiders and tap your way back down as your fingers act like rain. Alternatively, during a play scenario you can use fingerplay to show a climbing spider and wave your fingers to show rain falling down. Emphasize the sun coming out by forming a ball with your fingers up in the sky!
   

3. Old MacDonald: this is the quintessential song for animals and animal sounds! Toddlers love making animal sounds and watching you make animal sounds. Old MacDonald is such a flexible song too, allowing you to sub in your toddler's favourite animals. Old MacDonald is also another great song for using the pausing strategy and letting your toddler fill-in-the-blank: "And on that farm he had a ...." (pausing to let your toddler say "pig!", "horse!", "cat!" etc.) This song is a great opportunity to use stuffies and toy animals to enhance understanding as well. I love using a magic bag and pulling animals out one by one as you sing the song (Or letting your toddler make the picks!).
   

4. Wheels on the Bus: there are few songs that provide as many gesture opportunities as Wheels on the Bus whether its the 'round and round' while you rotate your hands, the 'beep beep beep' while you honk the horn, the swaying of your arms to show wipers swishing, and beyond! This song is so engaging and memorable. Don't be afraid to modify the lyrics either: my son (an avid truck lover) prefers that we sing 'the Wheels on the Truck'. Always remember to follow your child's interests!
   

5. Row Row Row Your Boat: I love this song for the gross motor opportunities it provides. Toddlers will love sitting on your lap or knees while you row together. I also love how this song can be modified to incorporate animals (e.g. Row Row Row your Boat, gently down the stream... if you see a crocodile, don't forget to scream 'aaah!'). Sub in any animal of your choosing and emphasize the scream by holding your hands on your cheeks.
   

6. Baa Baa Black Sheep: A short and sweet classic that provides lots of opportunities to change up the lyrics. You've probably heard versions with lots of different colours of sheep! In this song, I love gesturing to show that I'm asking 'have you any wool?', nodding my head to show 'yes' and gesturing to show 'three'. It's also fun to sing in a 'sheep voice' during the 'yes sir, yes sir' portion (kids love when you make silly sounds and voices!)

Download the Song Choice Board below and have your toddler choose the song next time! And as always, have fun with it!

-- Meg

Song_Choice_Board.pdf

Download PDF • 375KB