As part of our ‘Using Music in Your Home’ series, we’ve compiled several lists of the most popular songs for those early childhood learners in your home or classroom.

Singing is probably the most natural way to interact musically with your child. Just think of the common practice of singing lullabies when putting a baby to sleep.

It’s really easy to implement because you don’t need any special equipment, recordings, or even a great voice. Your kids or students in your classroom will just love the fact that you are singing with them or to them. Singing helps parents and teachers create bonds and connect with children on a whole new level. This can be especially important in the early years with parent-infant bonding.

There are obviously different preferences based on culture, age, personal tastes, etc. But particularly with young children we’ve found that it’s just best to do something, and younger learners are less inclined to have set preferences at such a young age.

In order to be most effective, you do need to have some intention in what you choose. For example, singing a lullaby like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, when the intent is to create a fun and playful situation, isn’t going to work as you hope it might. Which is why we’ve created a few different lists to give you ideas for your specific situation.

Some of the ways to use these songs is to help kids express their feelings, improve their motor skills, and enhance their cognitive development.

Let’s start with the classic songs that many of us likely grew up with:

Top 10 Classic Songs to Sing with Young Kids

1. BINGO
2. Old MacDonald
3. Happy and You Know It
4. I’m a Little Teapot
5. Pop Goes the Weasel
6. Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes
7. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
8. Do as I’m Doing
9. Alphabet Song
10. You are My Sunshine

This next list has more recent songs that are popular and are suitable for young kids:

Top 10 Popular Songs to Sing with Young Kids

1. “Baby Shark” by PINKFONG
2. “Happy” by Pharrell Williams
3. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
4. “I Love You Too” by Ziggy Marley
5. “Let It Go” by Demi Lovato
6. “You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song” by Ella Jenkins
7. “Brown Skin Girl” by Beyoncé, Wizkid and Saint Jhn Feat. Blue Ivy
8. “Splish Splash” by Bobby Darin
9. “This Is Me” by The Greatest Showman Cast
10. “Better When I’m Dancin’” by Meghan Trainor

For kids at are a little bit older here are popular songs to use, which overlaps with some songs in the list for younger kids:

Top 10 Songs to Sing with Older Kids

1. “The Rainbow Connection” by Jim Henson
2. “We Are the Dinosaurs” by Laurie Berkner
3. “Chugga Chugga Choo Choo” by Choo-Choo Soul
4. “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake
5. This Is Me” by The Greatest Showman Cast
6. “Better When I’m Dancin’” by Meghan Trainor
7. “Brave” by Sara Bareilles
8. “Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard,” Paul Simon
9. “Remedy,” Adele
10. “Spider-Man,” The Ramones

After getting all that energy out, you may need some songs to help everybody calm down and relax:

Top 10 Songs to Sing to Help Kids Relax

1. “Rock-a-Bye Baby”
2. “Brahms’ Lullaby” (also known as “The Cradle Song”)
3. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
4. “Amazing Grace”
5. “Frère Jacques” (or “Brother John”)
6. “Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
7. “Lullaby” by Jack Johnson
8. “Imagine” by John Lennon
9. “Wild World” by Cat Stevens
10. “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles

Playing Music vs. Music Therapy

There are some really important differences between simply playing music and the services provided by a music therapist.

As a Music Therapist, whenever I select a song to use in one of my sessions, I make sure that it is supporting a particular goal or objective to meet the client’s needs. We do have to be prepared to do whatever the moment calls for to meet the client where they are (which is where the hundreds of hours of practice come in handy), but I do always tie it back to helping the client in a deliberate way.

While playing or signing music is a really beneficial activity that involves creating or listening to music for enjoyment, relaxation, or personal expression, it is limited in its scope. Music therapy on the other hand is a service provided by board certified therapists who are designing sessions with specific, individualized goals in mind. The therapist then uses the power of music to address those specific goals such as: reducing stress, motivating movement, and creating social interactions.