Counting songs are a fun way to teach your children to count forwards and backwards and can help build their developing number concept and early maths skills.
In this article I’ll share some fun rote counting rhymes to 10, for preschoolers and toddlers.
How Do Children Learn From a Number Song?
Songs with numbers help children to memorise the order of numbers to 10 and beyond, as well as to say the numbers backwards.
Children don’t have to be forced to learn the numbers in a boring way because they will be learning incidentally through singing.
The rhythm in songs and rhymes, as well as the repetitive verses, help children memorise the numbers easily and an understanding of the value of numbers is built.
When children sing a song about 5 of something, which then becomes 4 when one leaves, and then 3, they learn that a number is not just a word but it represents a value. They learn about one-to-one correspondence.
Any form of learning that involves fun and play is effective in early childhood. It is the natural way children learn.
10 Counting Songs for Kids
Here are 10 fun counting rhymes to teach your kids, with lyrics. Some are old favourites and some are newer rhymes.
Some of these teach rote counting forwards or backwards (e.g. reciting from one to 10) and some teach number concepts (e.g. there were 5, one fell off, now there are 4).
1. The Ants Go Marching
The ants go marching one by one
Hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one
Hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one
The little one stops to suck his thumb
And they all go marching down to the ground to get out of the rain
Boom boom boom
Repeat the verses, changing the number of ants and the action line:
The ants go marching two by two
The little one stops to tie his shoe
The ants go marching three by three
The little one stops to climb a tree
The ants go marching four by four
The little one stops to shut the door
The ants go marching five by five
The little one stops to take a dive
The ants go marching six by six
The little one stops to pick up sticks
The ants go marching seven by seven
The little one stops to pray to heaven
The ants go marching eight by eight
The little one stops to roller skate
The ants go marching nine by nine
The little one stops to check the time
The ants go marching ten by ten
The little one stops to shout, “The End!”
2. Ten Green Bottles
Ten green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Ten green bottles
Hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There’ll be nine green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Nine green bottles…
Eight green bottles…
Repeat verses until there are no green bottles left:
One green bottle
Hanging on the wall
One green bottle
Hanging on the wall
If that one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There’ll be no green bottles
Hanging on the wall
3. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
One, two
Buckle my shoe
Three, four
Shut the door
Five, six
Pick up sticks
Seven, eight
Don’t be late
Nine, ten
Do it over again!
4. Ten Little Fingers
Ten little fingers, ten little toes,
Two little ears and one little nose
Two little eyes that shine so bright
And one little mouth to kiss mother goodnight.
5. Ten in a Bed
There were ten in the bed
And the little one said,
“Roll over! Roll over!”
So they all rolled over and
one fell out
There were nine in the bed…
There were eight in the bed…
Repeat verses until there is only one left in the bed:
There was one in the bed
And the little one said,
“Alone at last!”
6. Five Fat Sausages
Five fat sausages sizzling in a pan
The grease got hot – and one went “BANG”!
Four fat sausages sizzling in a pan
The grease got hot – and one went “BANG”!
Three fat sausages sizzling in a pan
The grease got hot – and one went “BANG”!
Two fat sausages sizzling in a pan
The grease got hot – and one went “BANG”!
One fat sausage sizzling in a pan
The grease got hot – and it went “BANG”!
No fat sausages frying in a pan.
7. Five Little Speckled Frogs
Five little speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs.
YUM! YUM!
One jumped into the pool,
Where it was nice and cool,
Then there were four speckled frogs!
GLUB! GLUB!
Four little speckled frogs…
Three little speckled frogs…
Repeat verses until there are no speckled frogs left:
One little speckled frog
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs.
YUM! YUM!
He jumped into the pool,
Where it was nice and cool,
Then there were no speckled frogs!
Here are more fun animal songs for preschoolers.
8. One, Two, Three, Four, Five
One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let it go again.
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on my right.
9. Five Little Snowmen
Five little snowmen standing in a line
One, Two, Three, Four, Five
So fine
Melt in the sunshine with a sigh
We’ll see you next year
Bye Bye!
Four little snowmen standing in a line
One, Two, Three, Four
So fine
Melt in the sunshine with a sigh
We’ll see you next year
Bye Bye!
Repeat verses until there are no snowmen left:
One little snowman standing in a line
One
So fine
Melt in the sunshine with a sigh
We’ll see you next year
Bye Bye!
10. Rabbits
Rabbits rabbits 1 2 3
Will you come and play with me?
Camels camels 4 5 6
Why do you have a hump like this?
Monkeys monkeys 7 8 9
Will you teach me how to climb?
When I have counted up to ten
The elephant says now start again.
Those are 10 of my favourite counting rhymes but there are many more to choose from! Check out this awesome list of preschool songs.
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Isobel Gillian Ball
Wednesday 16th of February 2022
Brilliant ! 6 of the ten I learnt as a child in the 60's! So wonderful. Thank you for all of the thinking that has gone into your curriculum ideas.They are so well thought out! I am going to teach them to my grand kids.
Tanja Mcilroy
Thursday 17th of February 2022
Thank you, Isobel! I'm so glad you're enjoying all the ideas.
Emily
Sunday 20th of December 2020
I had completely forgotten about some of these songs! My little guy has just been diagnosed as ADD. He is having trouble with learning at school & I’m trying to think of fun ways to help him at home. The expectations at school for a four year old to learn are ridiculous anymore! When I was little kindergarten was about learning through play. Not doing worksheets!
Tanja Mcilroy
Friday 1st of January 2021
Apologies for the late response Emily. I missed this comment. It really is sad how much the focus has shifted onto academics nowadays. At least your son has a mom who is researching fun things to keep him learning!
Priscilla Darkwa
Monday 6th of May 2019
Please, I do need help with my 4 year old. Thanks
Tanja Mcilroy
Tuesday 7th of May 2019
Hi Priscilla, Have you downloaded my free mini course yet? You can do so here https://empoweredparents.co/teach-my-preschooler/ There is tons of useful information for you to help with your little one. Have a great day Tanja
michelle potrzeba
Monday 29th of April 2019
Memorize is spelled wrong on the 2nd page FYI Just thought you might want to know.
Tanja Mcilroy
Monday 29th of April 2019
Hi Michelle,
Thanks so much for letting me know. I can't seem to find it. Is it in this article or on a different page of my website? Are you perhaps referring to the fact that it is spelt on this article with an s? It is just the British spelling that I've used.
Amanda N. Davis, Ph. D.
Wednesday 8th of August 2018
Dear Tanja-
You somehow connected with my email and I have been receiving Emails from Empowered Parents. I am a retired math teacher educator who is passionate about the importance of incorporating math into conversations we have with children in the early years. When you have a chance, please go to my website at www.powerstartmath.com.
I just requested your Teach-My-Preschooler guide. Also, I live in Birmingham, Alabama. Are you here, too? Please contact me. I would love to meet you. More detailed contact information for me is on my website.
Tanja Mcilroy
Friday 10th of August 2018
Hi Amanda,
Thank you for your message. I'm actually from South Africa!
I love your website and would encourage my readers to read your articles. I really agree with the opening line of one of your articles:
"Now, remember that our intent is not to push academic, primary work down into preschool but to take advantage of the early years for giving children early, hands-on experiences that will lead to deep understandings of some of the basics before the primary grades."
This pretty much sums up the message I am trying to spread to parents - preparing young preschoolers through play and hands-on experiences. There is too much emphasis nowadays on trying to force young children to learn academic skills they are not ready for. Preschoolers don't learn Maths through worksheets, but through play and the kinds of power-chats you talk about.
Contact me anytime at tanja@empoweredparents.co
Have a great day Tanja