Singing name songs with your class is a great way to start the day by welcoming children by name, or for introducing an All About Me theme.
Another way to use these songs is to help make your transitions calmer during the day. Sing one of these during circle time, and when the children hear their name, it’s a prompt for them to join the line/be dismissed/wash their hands for snack time, etc.
Many of these use tunes from popular nursery rhymes, so they are easy to remember.
1. Willaby Wallaby Woo
Willaby Wallaby Woo is always a big hit with kids as it’s such a fun song. Change the word “woo” in each verse to rhyme with each child’s name.
Add the actions of clapping and tapping on the knees to introduce rhythm (shown in the video below). The lyrics are below the video.
Lyrics:
Willaby Wallaby Woo,
An elephant sat on you.
Willaby Wallaby We,
An elephant sat on me.
Willaby Wallaby Wam,
An elephant sat on Pam.
Willaby Wallaby Welize,
An elephant sat on Elize.
Willaby Wallaby Wemma,
An elephant sat on Emma.
2. Five Little Speckled Frogs
If you have a smaller group of children, this is a cute song to learn to count backwards.
Start with the number of children you have, insert a child’s name in each verse, then start the next verse with one number less, until there are no more speckled frogs.
Lyrics:
Ten little speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log
Eating some most delicious bugs.
YUM! YUM!
(Child’s name) jumped into the pool,
Where it was nice and cool,
Then there were nine speckled frogs!
GLUB! GLUB!
You could also use another counting-down song, such as Five Little Hot Dogs:
5 little hot dogs frying in a pan
The grease got hot and Muhammed went bam!
4 little hot dogs frying in a pan
The grease got hot and Marla went bam!
Here are more fun counting songs for circle time.
3. Emma’s Here Today
Sung to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell, this one is simple yet enjoyable for kids.
Lyrics:
Emma’s here today
Emma’s here today
Hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray,
Emma’s here today
Add this optional second verse if you’d like to add some movement:
Jump up and down.
Jump up and down.
We’re so happy Emma’s here
Now you may sit down.
4. The Good Morning Train Is Coming
This is a popular song with a recognisable tune that’s easy to learn.
Lyrics:
The good morning train is coming,
How are you? Choo choo!
The good morning train is coming,
How are you? Choo choo!
The good morning train is coming,
The good morning train is coming,
The good morning train is coming,
How are you? Choo choo!
Well, good morning to Emma
How are you? Choo choo!
Good morning to Sarah
How are you? Choo choo!
Good morning to Sachin
Good morning to Mary
Good morning to Alex
How are you? Choo choo!
Here are some good morning songs you’ll want to save and try with your kids!
5. Hello Greeting Song
This song, by Sandra Hendrickson from Sing Play Create, is sung to the tune of Frère Jacques.
Hello Susan,
Hello Susan,
How are you?
How are you?
Stand and wave hello,
Stand and wave hello,
Then sit down,
Then sit down.
6. Good Morning to You
Here’s another simple one by Play to Learn Preschool. The tune is the Happy Birthday song.
Good morning to you
Good morning to you
Good morning to (Tyler)
How do you do?
7. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
This song was suggested by an anonymous teacher on Reddit. It works well for dismissing children or sending them to wash their hands for snack time.
Lyrics:
Row, row, row your boat
In the ocean blue
Now it’s time for Jane to go
You know what to do!
8. Look Who Came to School Today
Sing Look Who Came to School Today to the tune of This Is the Way. Use clapping or tapping actions as shown in the video below:
Lyrics:
Look who came to school today, school today, school today.
Look who came to school today.
Max came to school
Repeat for all the children in your class.
9. Where is Samuel?
This song is sung to the tune of “Where is Thumbkin” and is great for teaching children about emotions.
For each child, sing:
Where is [name]?
Where is [name]?
There you are!
There you are!
How are you this morning?
How are you this morning?
You look [emotion]!
10. Jump Up and Down
This is a good song to burn off some excess energy and reset kids, or to help with transitions. You can sing it to the tune of Skip to My Lou.
John, John, jump up and down,
Jump up and down, jump up and down,
John, John, jump up and down,
Now (please sit back down/go wash your hands/join the line)
For more fun classroom songs, try these action songs, line-up songs and these come-to-the-carpet songs.