Top tips: Singing in the early years
From the very earliest age children are exposed to music from hearing their mum singing to them whilst in the womb or listening to music on the car radio as they travel to nursery. Young children respond to music and spontaneously create their own during their play. This top tip looks at how you can use music as a purposeful and engaging tool for learning across all areas and throughout the day.
Top tips for singing in the early years
- Singing routines: Incorporating singing into daily routines such as tidy up time will provide a gentle and engaging prompt for children to participate. For example, you could make up a song with the children to a popular tune e.g. to the tune of Frere Jaques: Everybody (x2), Time to stop (x2), Let’s all clean and tidy (x2), all away (x2).
- Singing corner: Providing a singing area will encourage children to sing together, make music and draw on their knowledge of familiar songs. It will develop confidence and expressive language skills for the singer and listening and attention skills for audience. Use a screen, rug or fabric to create a separate space. Put pictures and lyrics of familiar songs on the wall, a basket of instruments, microphones and create a comfy seating area. This area can promote active learning as children sing together making choices about particular songs. They will learn to listen to each other copying pitch or instrument patterns.
- Singing teddy: If you as the adult are a reluctant singer, using a prop such as a teddy can be helpful. Don’t worry about how you sound as the children will love that you are participating in this fun and accessible activity with them. Introduce them to the singing teddy or puppet and they will look at the prop rather than at you, which may help with any stage fright.
- Singing your way around the curriculum: Singing can be a great way for children to make links into other areas of learning. There really is a song for every occasion. For example, 5 little specked frogs, will develop children’s understanding of amounts and key language like ‘fewer,’ or ‘’less’. Heads, shoulders, knees and toes will extend their vocabulary.
- Singing your way through routines: Familiar songs such as the tidy up song can help children know what is coming next in the day and they love to join in.
- Singing is communal activity. As children explore songs and rhymes together and with you, they will develop skills across the curriculum in a playful and joyous way.
Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.
- MyNDNA
- Tips
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