Songs We Love

Singing can be an important time for connection between you and your child. When you sing with a child you are inviting them to join you in a moment of undivided attention and care. While singing is often a joyful time for children, parents and caregivers alike, songs can also be used to mark important transitions in your child’s day such as hellos and good-byes, waiting, and sleeping time. Songs can also be used to help your child contextualize the big feelings they have throughout the day. When you sing a song with a child that mirrors their emotional experience, you are letting that child know that you understand them; you are there with them, and what they are feeling is okay. For adults who like to sing and make music, singing with your child after a hard moment can calm you down too—allowing you to truly see your child’s needs and be present for your developing relationship. 

Authors and copyright are cited when known

“My Mommy Comes Back” 

Adapted from the song by Hap Palmer

My mommy (daddy, grandpa, sister) comes back

My mommy comes back

My mommy comes back to get me

My mommy comes back

She always comes back

She never will forget me.

“Once ___ was a Baby”

By Marcia Berman and Patty Zeitlin

Once ___ was a baby, a baby, a baby

Once ___ was a baby, a baby girl/boy

Now ___ is a big girl, a tall girl, a strong girl

Now ___ is a big girl, a tall, strong, girl.

“Rum Sum Sum”

Adapted from the song, “A Ram Sam Sam” (origin unknown)

A rum sum sum

A rum sum sum

Guli, guli, guli, guli, guli, rum sum sum

A rum sum sum 

A rum sum sum

Guli, guli, guli, guli, guli, rum sum sum

A rafi, a rafi, 

Guli, guli, guli, guli, guli, rum sum sum

A rafi, a rafi

Guli, guli, guli, guli, guli

Rum sum sum.

“Birds in the Wilderness”—A Waiting Song

By Marcia Berman and Patty Zeitlin

Here we sit like birds in the wilderness

Birds in the wilderness

Birds in the wilderness

Here we sit like birds in the wilderness

Waiting  [for our food, for our mom, to go outside].

“Here’s a Song” 

Words and music by Patty Zeitlin

© 1974 Bullfrog Ballades, ASCAP

Here’s a song for Lupe, Lupe with her brown hair, and brown eyes too

Tell me, do I love her, yes I do

Here’s a song for Eric, Eric with his blonde hair, and blue eyes too

Tell me, do I love him, yes I do.

[This is a great song to ask children for their hair color and their eye color and repeat whatever they say—they can get creative!]

“Two Little Blackbirds”

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill,

One named Jack and one named Jill

Fly away Jack, Fly away Jill

Come back Jack, come back Jill.

“Yes and No” 

Adapted from the song by Bill Fletcher

© Primary Pop Songs

I nod my head to say yes, yes, yes

I nod my head to say yes, yes, yes

I shake my head to say no, no, no

I shake my head to say no, no, no

Yes, yes, yes, no, no, no

I use my head to say yes and no.

“Jenny Fell Down”

By Malvina Reynolds

___(Insert name) fell down and bumped her head

Ouch! Wouch! She bumped her head

Pick her up on her feet again,

___ fell down Kaboom!

[Ask the child where they got hurt on their body and repeat what they say!]

“A-Way Up In The Sky”

Written by Jacki Breger

© 1980 It’s Music Time

A-Way up in the sky, the little birds fly

Way down in the nest, the little birds rest

With a wing on the left, and a wing on the right

We’ll let the little birdies sleep all through the night.

Shhhhhhh, they’re sleeping.

The bright sun comes up, the dew falls away

Good morning! Good morning! The little birds say.

Good-Bye Songs:

“Good-Bye, It’s Been Good To See You!”

Adapted from “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know Ya” By Woody Guthrie

Good-bye, it’s been good to see you

Good-bye, it’s been good to see you

Good-bye, it’s been good to see you 

And now it is time to go, to go

And now it is time to go

Good-Bye!

“Now It’s Time to Say Good-Bye”

By Marcia Berman and Patty Zeitlin

Now it’s time to say good-bye to all our friends at playgroup,

Good-bye, ___ (insert child’s name) 

Good-bye, ___

Good-Bye, ___

It’s time to say good-bye!