Kiddipedia
Music is important for children’s development. It teaches them about the rhyme and rhythm of language and a fun way to build on their early literacy skills. There is a lot of choice for songs these days, and we did a poll recently about the favourite songs in Australia for children under five years of age.
There was a big stand out: Baby Shark. Just in case you don’t know the lyrics OFF BY HEART, here they are:
Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Baby shark!
Mommy shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Mommy shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Mommy shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Mommy shark!
Daddy shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Daddy shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Daddy shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Daddy shark!
Grandma shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Grandma shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Grandma shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Grandma shark!
Grandpa shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Grandpa shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Grandpa shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Grandpa shark!
Let’s go hunt, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Let’s go hunt, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Let’s go hunt, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Let’s go hunt!
Run away, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Run away, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Run away, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Run away!
Safe at last, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Safe at last, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Safe at last, doo doo doo doo doo doo
Safe at last!
It’s the end, doo doo doo doo doo doo
It’s the end, doo doo doo doo doo doo
It’s the end, doo doo doo doo doo doo
It’s the end!
It’s hard to trace the exact origins of this campfire song. However, Pinkfong, a South Korean educational brand, popularised the song in a 2016 YouTube video that has now reached almost 2 billion views! If you’re looking for a fun version for adults, check out James Cordon’s version with Josh Groban and Sophie Turner.
Although Baby Shark was an obvious winner with the kids, there were other surprising songs that made the list, and even some golden oldies you may have enjoyed in your own childhood. Below is a list of 40 songs that are favourites for under-fives in Australia. Some of them are general nursery rhymes that are put to music, so the author is left blank and you can search for whatever version your child enjoys best.
- Apples and Bananas by Raffi
- The Ants go Marching
- Baby Shark by Pinkfong
- Big Red Car by The Wiggles
- Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake (Trolls soundtrack)
- The Children’s Marching Song (Nick Nack Paddy Wack) by Mitch Miller
- Do the Propeller by The Wiggles
- Dino Stomp by Playschool
- Dr Knickerbocker by The Wiggles
- Everywhere’s a Dancefloor by Justine Clarke
- Five Cheeky Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
- Five Little Ducks
- Five Little Speckled Frogs
- Fish & Mice by Holly Throsby
- Fruit Salad by The Wiggles
- Happy by Pharrell Williams (Despicable Me soundtrack)
- Hickory Dickory Dock
- Hot Dog Dance by Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
- Hushaby Mountain by Stacey Kent
- I Can Play Anything by Jay Laga’aia
- I like to Sing by Justine Clarke
- I’m Still Standing by Taron Egerton (Sing soundtrack)
- Incy Wincy Spider
- Let it Go by Idina Menzel (Frozen soundtrack)
- Little Day Out by Justine Clarke
- Jesus Loves Me by William B. Bradbury
- Make a Scary Face by Spotty Kites
- Mr Clickerty Cane
- My Lighthouse by Rend Collective
- Old Macdonald
- Open, Shut Them
- Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul and Mary
- Sleeping Bunnies
- Teddy Bear’s Picnic by Anne Murray
- This is the Way the Lady Rides
- This Little Teapot
- Watermelon by Justine Clarke
- We are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner
- Wheels on the Bus
- You Are My Sunshine originally written by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchel
When it comes to music, there are no real rules. Just try different songs and see what your child responds to. While repetition can be a bit annoying for adults at times, kids love it (and it’s important for learning too). So start creating a playlist, and listen to music in the car, at home, or anywhere!
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