Searching for number rhymes for preschoolers or toddlers? Some of these are traditional number rhymes, while others are fresh, new songs your kids will love.
Singing songs with numbers has many benefits for young children, such as:
- Vocabulary development
- Learning about rhythm and rhyme
- Learning to rote count
- Learning one-to-one-correspondence and early maths concepts
- Developing sound awareness
- And much more!
Here are some old favourites, first:
1. Hot Cross Buns
Hot cross buns
Hot cross buns
One a penny
Two a penny
Hot cross buns
Give them to your daughters
Give them to your sons
One a penny
Two a penny
Hot cross buns
2. Five Fat Peas
This song is also a fun finger rhyme.
Five fat peas in a pea pod pressed,
One grew, two grew, so did all the rest.
They grew and grew,
And did not stop,
Until one day,
The pod went POP!
3. One for Sorrow
This nursery rhyme about magpies has a superstitious origin but is a well-known classic. [source]
One for sorrow,
Two for joy.
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy.
Five for silver,
Six for gold.
Seven for a secret,
Never to be told.
Eight for a wish,
Nine for a kiss.
Ten for a bird,
You want to miss.
4. Rub-a-Dub-Dub
Rub-a-Dub-Dub,
Three men in a tub,
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker,
The candlestick maker,
And all of them going to sea.
5. One, Two, Three, Four
One, Two, Three, Four
Mary at the kitchen door.
Five, six, seven, eight,
Eating cherries off the plate.
6. Five Currant Buns
This song is more fun if you substitute a child’s name into it, or take turns using names if using it in a group.
It teaches the concept of ‘one less than’ and how to count backwards.
Five currant buns in the baker’s shop
Big and round with a cherry on the top
Along came (insert name) with a penny one day
Bought a currant bun and took it away
Four currant buns in the baker’s shop
Big and round with a cherry on the top
Along came (insert name) with a penny one day
Bought a currant bun and took it away
Repeat the verse, counting down until there are no currant buns
No currant buns in the baker’s shop
Nothing big and round with a cherry on the top
Along came (insert name) with a penny one day
“Sorry,” said the baker,
“No more currant buns today.”
The next few songs are by Super Simple Songs. Their music is upbeat and lots of fun for young kids.
Some are classic songs, and some are adaptations of popular songs.
7. One potato, Two Potatoes
One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four.
Five potatoes, six potatoes, seven potatoes, more.
One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four.
Five potatoes, six potatoes, seven potatoes, more.
8. Hickory Dickory…Crash
In this fun version of Hickory Dickory Dock, different animals go up the clock each time, until an elephant tries to go up!
Hickory dickory dock.
The mouse went up the clock.
The clock struck one.
The mouse went down.
Hickory dickory dock.
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.
A snake.
Hickory dickory dock.
The snake went up the clock.
The clock struck two.
The snake went down.
Hickory dickory dock.
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.
A squirrel.
Hickory dickory dock.
The squirrel went up the clock.
The clock struck three.
The squirrel went down.
Hickory dickory dock.
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.
A cat.
Hickory dickory dock.
The cat went up the clock.
The clock struck four.
The cat went down.
Hickory dickory dock.
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.
A monkey.
Hickory dickory dock.
The monkey went up the clock.
The clock struck five.
The monkey went down.
Hickory dickory dock.
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.
An elephant?! Oh no!
Hickory dickory dock
The elephant went up the clock.
Oh no!
Hickory dickory dock.
9. How Many Fingers on One Hand?
This is one of the catchiest number songs for kids, from Super Simple Songs.
It’s great for teaching body awareness and identifying that you have two sets of five fingers and two sets of five toes (early intro to multiplication).
How many fingers on one hand?
How many fingers on one hand?
How many fingers on one hand?
Let’s all count together.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
How many fingers on two hands?
How many fingers on two hands?
How many fingers on two hands?
Let’s all count together.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Clap clap clap your hands.
X X X X X
Clap clap clap your hands.
X X X X X
Clap clap clap your hands.
X X X X X
Clap your hands with me.
X X X X X
Let’s count our toes.
How many toes on one foot?
How many toes on one foot?
How many toes on one foot?
Let’s all count together.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
How many toes on two feet?
How many toes on two feet?
How many toes on two feet?
Let’s all count together.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Stomp stomp stomp your feet.
X X X X X
Stomp stomp stomp your feet.
X X X X X
Stomp stomp stomp your feet.
X X X X X
Stomp your feet with me.
X X X X X
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
10. Ten Little Fire Trucks
This song will teach your littlies to count forwards to ten, as well as backwards from ten to one.
Hey! Let’s count some fire trucks!
1 little, 2 little, 3 little fire trucks,
4 little, 5 little, 6 little fire trucks,
7 little, 8 little, 9 little fire trucks,
10 little fire trucks.
Great job, guys. Now let’s count backwards.
10 little, 9 little, 8 little fire trucks,
7 little, 6 little, 5 little fire trucks,
4 little, 3 little, 2 little fire trucks,
1 little fire truck.
1 fire truck. 2 fire trucks. 3 fire trucks.
4 fire trucks. 5 fire trucks. 6 fire trucks.
7 fire trucks. 8 fire trucks. 9 fire trucks.
10 fire trucks.
1 little, 2 little, 3 little fire trucks,
4 little, 5 little, 6 little fire trucks,
7 little, 8 little, 9 little fire trucks,
10 little fire trucks.
Backwards!
10 little, 9 little, 8 little fire trucks,
7 little, 6 little, 5 little fire trucks,
4 little, 3 little, 2 little fire trucks,
1 little fire truck.
So many fire trucks! Thanks for counting with me!
11. The Bees Go Buzzing
This is a cute variation of the popular song, The Ants Go Marching, sung to the same tune.
The bees go buzzing one by one.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing one by one.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing one by one.
The little one stops to have some fun.
And they all go flying high, in the sky.
To go back, to their hive.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The bees go buzzing two by two.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing two by two.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing two by two.
The little one stops to sing a tune.
And they all go flying high, in the sky.
To go back, to their hive.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The bees go buzzing three by three.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing three by three.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing three by three.
The little one stops to scratch her knee.
And they all go flying high, in the sky.
To go back, to their hive.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The bees go buzzing four by four.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing four by four.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing four by four.
The little one stops to sing once more.
And they all go flying high, in the sky.
To go back, to their hive.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The bees go buzzing five by five.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing five by five.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing five by five.
The little one stops to exercise.
And they all go flying high, in the sky.
To go back, to their hive.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The bees go buzzing six by six.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing six by six.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing six by six.
The little one stops to make a wish.
And they all go flying high, in the sky.
To go back, to their hive.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The bees go buzzing seven by seven.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing seven by seven.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing seven by seven.
The little one stops to ask directions.
And they all go flying high, in the sky.
To go back, to their hive.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The bees go buzzing eight by eight.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing eight by eight.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing eight by eight.
The little one stops to pollinate.
And they all go flying high, in the sky.
To go back, to their hive.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The bees go buzzing nine by nine.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing nine by nine.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing nine by nine.
The little one starts to fall behind.
And they all go flying high, in the sky
To go back, to their hive
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The bees go buzzing ten by ten.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing ten by ten.
Hoorah! Hoorah!
The bees go buzzing ten by ten.
The little one stops to shout,
“THE END!”
12. Ten Little Fishies
Here’s one last fun song about fish, to teach the kiddies to count ‘one by one’.
One little fishy swimming in the sea.
Along came another one, and then there were two.
Two little fishies swimming in the sea.
Along came another one, and then there were three.
Three little fishies swimming in the sea.
Along came another one, and then there were four.
Swimming swimming swimming in the sea.
That big ol’ shark will never catch me.
Four little fishies swimming in the sea.
Along came another one, and then there were five.
Five little fishies swimming in the sea.
Along came another one, and then there were six.
Six little fishies swimming in the sea.
Along came another one, and then there were seven.
Swimming swimming swimming in the sea.
That big ol’ shark will never catch me.
Seven little fishies swimming in the sea.
Along came another one, and then there were eight.
Eight little fishies swimming in the sea.
Along came another one, and then there were nine.
Nine little fishies swimming in the sea.
Along came another one, and then there were ten.
Swimming swimming swimming in the sea.
That big ol’ shark will never catch me.
Swimming swimming swimming in the sea.
That big ol’ shark will never catch me.
Swimming swimming swimming in the sea.
That big ol’ shark will never catch me.
He’ll never,
Never,
Never,
Never,
That big old shark will never catch me!
I hope you enjoyed these number rhymes for kids. Teaching songs in preschool is an important part of a music and movement programme.
Here are some more counting songs. Or, check out this list of the best nursery rhymes with actions.
