Managing daily routines and activities in a preschool class can be a challenge. These songs and chants will help your day run smoothly and make transitions a breeze.
I have hand-picked these songs as they all have simple lyrics and tunes, making them easy to learn.
There are ideas for:
- hello songs
- name songs
- attention grabbers
- sit-down songs
- line-up chants
- clean-up songs
- hand-washing songs
- goodbye songs
- movement songs
Save this as a reference page so you always have these song ideas handy!
Good Morning Songs
Start your morning circle time with a fun welcome song. The children especially love it if you include their names and call them out individually.
Maya’s Here Today
Sung to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell, this is a simple, fun song that’s easy for young children to join in with.
Lyrics:
Maya’s here today
Maya’s here today
Hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray,
Maya’s here today
Lucy’s here today
Lucy’s here today
Hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray,
Lucy’s here today
The Good Morning Train
Using the tune of She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain, this song is always a hit with young children. Here is the tune, followed by the lyrics:
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
And we say hello to Lucy, how are you? Choo choo
And we say hello to Samuel, how are you? Choo choo
And we say hello to Robby,
And we say hello to Aarav,
And we say hello to Maeve, how are you? Choo choo
Here are more good morning songs for preschool.
Name Songs
Name songs can also be used for other transitions. For example, the two songs below could be used to send children off one at a time (as they hear their name) to wash their hands before snack, or to dismiss them for home time.
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 Wiam,
An elephant sat on Liam.
Willaby Wallaby Wofia,
An elephant sat on Sofia.
Willaby Wallaby Woah,
An elephant sat on Noah.
Jump Up and Down
This energetic song is perfect for helping children burn off extra energy or make a smooth transition between activities. Sing it to the tune of Skip to My Lou.
Lyrics:
Adam, Adam, jump up and down,
Jump up and down, jump up and down,
Adam, Adam, jump up and down,
Now (please sit back down/go wash your hands/join the line)
Here is a collection of more name songs for kids.
Attention Grabbers
These simple chants will help you get the kids’ attention, to give an instruction or ask a question.
Hocus Pocus
Watch this simple attention grabber from Dr Jean at the 1min mark in this video:
Lyrics:
Hocus pocus
Everybody focus
After you say “hocus pocus,” the children pretend to put their focus goggles on, and then you can ask them to keep their goggles on while they pay attention to what you’re saying.
One, Two, Three
This is a very basic chant I always used in my classroom.
Teacher chants:
One, two, three
Eyes on me
Children respond:
One, two
Eyes on you
The trick with these chants is to change them now and again, so that the kids don’t get so used to hearing one that they no longer respond promptly.
Sit Down Songs
These are the perfect songs to get children to come to the carpet and sit down.
Everybody Have a Seat
This catchy song combines body percussion with a fun melody, encouraging children to clap their hands and tap their laps. The video demonstrates the actions, with the lyrics underneath.
Lyrics:
Everybody have a seat, have a seat, have a seat.
Everybody come and have a seat on the floor.
Everybody have a seat, have a seat, have a seat.
Everybody come and have a seat on the floor.
Not on the ceiling, not on the door!
Everybody come and have a seat on the floor.
Come on Over
Sing this simple song by Miss Nina to the tune of Oh My Darling, Clementine.
Lyrics:
Come on over
Come on over
Come on over, everyone
Come on over
Come on over
For some circle time fun
Here are 10 sit-down songs you’ll want to try with your kids.
Line Up Songs
Help your children to line up calmly at the door with these songs and chants.
If You’re Ready and You Know It
Most children already know If You’re Happy and You Know It, making it the perfect song to adapt for transitions.
Lyrics:
If you’re ready and you know it, face the door
If you’re ready and you know it, face the door
If you’re ready and you know it, then it’s time to really show it
If you’re ready and you know it, face the door
Say no more! (whisper)
One, Two, Listen and Do
Children usually learn this fun rhyming chant very quickly. My daughter came home singing it after learning it at school and repeated it for days!
Lyrics:
One, two
Listen and do
Three, four
Face the door
Five, six
Hands on hips
Seven, eight
Line up straight
Nine, ten
Let the walking begin
Here are more line-up songs to try.
Clean Up Songs
Make clean-up time less of a chore and more of a fun game with these songs.
Clean Up!
Make tidying up more enjoyable with this preschool clean-up song by Super Simple Songs. The short, repetitive verses make it easy for children to learn and sing along.
Lyrics:
Repeat this verse 4 times:
Clean up, clean up.
Everybody, let’s clean up.
Clean up, clean up.
Put your things away.
Clean up! Clean up! Clean up!
Put your things away.
Pick up your toys.
Pick up your books.
Pick up your shoes.
Put your things away.
Repeat this verse twice:
Clean up, clean up.
Everybody, let’s clean up.
Clean up, clean up.
Put your things away.
The Clean-Up Song
This song by The Kiboomers is easy to learn and fun to clap along to.
Lyrics:
Clap, clap
Now it’s time to clean up (clap, clap)
Now it’s time to clean up
We had a lot of fun and now that we’re done (clap, clap)
Now it’s time to clean up
Now it’s time to clean up (clap, clap)
Now it’s time to clean up
Girls and boys have put away the toys (clap, clap)
Now it’s time to clean up
Now it’s time to clean up (clap, clap)
Now it’s time to clean up
We had a lot of fun and now that we’re done (clap, clap)
Now it’s time to clean up
Here are some alternative clean-up songs your kids will enjoy.
Hand Washing Songs
Singing a song during bathroom routines can help children to be a little more mindful about washing their hands properly.
This is the Way We Wash Our Hands
Sing this easy hand-washing song to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush:
Lyrics:
This is the way we wash our hands,
Wash our hands, wash our hands.
This is the way we wash our hands.
Early in the morning.
Top and Bottom
This is one of the best and simplest songs for teaching proper hand-washing techniques. Follow along with the actions in the video and sing to the tune of Frère Jacques.
Lyrics:
Top and bottom
Top and Bottom
In between
In between
Scrub your hands together
Scrub your hands together
Nice and clean
Nice and clean
Here are more washing hands songs.
Goodbye Songs
End the day with these cute goodbye songs.
Later Alligator
In this song by Miss Nina, name each child as you sing this simple jingle to them. Watch the actions and listen to the song here (the song begins at 1 min 27 sec).
Lyrics:
(Insert name) see ya later,
Later alligator.
After a while crocodile
Bye for now!
Good Bye Everybody
This song by Miss Linky is fun to dance along to as the children greet their friends and teacher at the end of the day.
Lyrics:
Goodbye everybody, we had a good day
Goodbye everybody, it’s time to say
Goodbye to my teacher
Goodbye to my friends
Goodbye everybody till I see you again
Wave your hands left
Wave your hands right
Turn around once
And clap your hands twice
Step to the left
Step to the right
Jump to the middle
And jump out right
Movement Songs
Sometimes all you need is a movement song to help children reset and get them ready for the next activity.
Here are a few action songs that are always a hit.
Shake My Sillies Out
Get the wiggles out, literally, with this fun song.
Lyrics:
We’re gonna shake, shake, shake our sillies out
Shake, shake, shake our sillies out
Shake, shake, shake our sillies out
And wiggle our waggles away
Here are lyrics for the following verses:
We’re gonna clap, clap, clap our crazies out
We’re gonna jump, jump, jump our jiggles out
We’re gonna jog, jog, jog our jitters out
We’re gonna stretch, stretch, stretch our stretchies out
Open, Shut Them
This classic song is a quick way to get kids’ attention. Add extra verses as in the video.
Lyrics:
Open, shut them
(separate hands and put together again)
Open, shut them
(separate hands and put together again)
Put them in your lap
(tap hands twice on lap)
Open, shut them
(separate hands and put together again)
Open, shut them
(separate hands and put together again)
Give a little clap
(clap hands twice)
Here are more popular action songs for kids.
I hope you’ll enjoy trying out some new ideas with your class!