The following are hello songs, goodbye songs, transition/re-focus songs, songs in general that I use again and again or songs that are requested very frequently. Around the website you’ll notice them listed as hello, goodbye, re-focus and favorite songs.
Hello Songs
Hello Everybody
Well hello everybody can you touch your nose, touch your nose, touch your nose
Well hello everybody can you touch your nose, touch your nose
Well hello everybody can you touch your toes, touch your toes, touch your toes
Well hello everybody can you touch your toes, touch your toes
(Sometimes I add)
Well hello everybody can you (stick out tongue and make noises x3)
Well hello everybody can you (stick out tongue and make noises x2)
If I do this last part with the tongue sticking out I usually keep my tongue out while I grab and start talking about our first book. The children love giggling at this and pointing out that my tongue is still out! This is then a great moment to silly slurp them back into our mouths and put our listening ears on so that we can begin story time. I often add this bit for class visits in particular.
Hello Friends
Hello friends, Hello friends, Hello friends, it’s time to say Hello!
Wake Up Feet
Wake up feet Wake up feet
Wake up feet and wiggle wiggle wiggle
Wake up feet Wake up feet
Wake up and wiggle in the morning
Wake up hands Wake up hands
Wake up hands and wiggle wiggle wiggle
Wake up hands Wake up hands
Wake up and wiggle in the morning
Hip Hip Hooray, You’re Here Today
[Name] is here today, [Name] is here today
Hip hip hooray, [Name] is here today!
This is a great song for small groups and first visits! We tap our knees during the song and sing about each child. If this is a public story time, I will also hold my hand out after each verse and say WIIIIIITH to give the grown-up the opportunity to also participate by shouting out their name.
Goodbye Songs
Goodbye Friends
Goodbye friends, goodbye friends, goodbye friends, we’ll see you again next time!
(sometimes instead of goodbye friends I will say goodbye story time especially when we are transitioning into another activity.)
Active Goodbye
Up (hands up)
Down (hands to floor)
Turn around (turn in a circle)
Touch the sky (reach for sky)
And touch the ground (touch toes as if you’re stretching)
Pat your belly (stick out your belly and rub it)
Blink your eyes (blink)
Blow a kiss (blow a big kiss)
And wave goodbye! (wave)
Re-focus/Transition Songs
These Are My Glasses
These are my glasses
This is my book
I put on my glasses
And open up the book
Now I read read read
And I look look look
I put down my glasses
And SHOOP close up the book
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
This song can be lengthened or shortened based on the amount of time kids need to re-focus. Sometimes I just do the last two lines and that works just fine. Children are assumed to be standing when the song begins.
Teddy bear teddy bear touch the sky
Teddy bear teddy bear reach up high
Teddy bear teddy bear reach down low
Teddy bear teddy bear stand up slow
Teddy bear teddy bear turn around
Teddy bear teddy bear please sit down
Wiggle & Stop
Wiggle and wiggle and stop
Wiggle and wiggle and stop
Wiggle and wiggle and wiggle and wiggle and wiggle and wiggle and stop
Clap and clap
Stomp and stomp
etc.
Favorite Songs
Snake in the Grass
Snake snake snake in the grass
Snake snake snake in the grass
Snake snake snake in the grass
Oh no! I see a snake
So I better run really fast!
Snake snake snake in the grass
Snake snake snake in the grass
Snake snake snake in the grass
Oh no! I see a snake
So I better walk really quietly
Snake snake snake in the grass
Snake snake snake in the grass
Snake snake snake in the grass
Oh no! I see a snake
So I better run really fast!
Snake snake snake in the grass
Snake snake snake in the grass
Snake snake snake in the grass
Oh no! I see a snake
So I get in my car and I drive away Beep Beep!
Bananas Unite!
Peel bananas
Peel Peel bananas 2x
Chop bananas
Chop Chop bananas 2x
Smash bananas
Smash Smash bananas 2x
Mix bananas
Mix mix bananas 2x
Eat bananas
Eat eat bananas 2x
Gooooooooooo bananas!
Tick Tock
Tick tock tick tock I’m a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock tick tock now I’m striking 1 o’clock CUCKOO! (jump up and sit back down)
Tick tock tick tock I’m a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock tick tock now I’m striking 2 o’clock CUCKOO CUCKOO! (jump up and sit back down)
Tick tock tick tock I’m a little cuckoo clock
Tick tock tick tock now I’m striking 3 o’clock CUCKOO CUCKOO CUCKOO! (jump up and sit back down)
Tick tock tick tock now it’s time to STOP
Zoom Zoom Zoom
Zoom Zoom Zoom we’re going to the moon
Zoom zoom zoom we’ll be there very soon
If you want to take a trip
Climb aboard my ricket ship
Zoom zoom zoom we’re going to the moon
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!
Hippopotamus on the Bus
A hip a hip a hippopotamus
Got on got on got on the city bus
And all and all and all the people said
You’re squishing us!
A sheep a sheep a sheep got on the bus
A sheep a sheep a sheep got on the bus
And all and all and all the people said
Baaaaaack up!
A cow a cow a cow got on the bus
A cow a cow a cow got on the bus
And all and all and all the people said
Mooooooove over!
A hip a hip a hippopotamus
Got on got on got on the city bus
And all and all and all the people said
You’re squishing us!
Elevator Song
Oh the city is great and the city is grand
There are lots of tall buildings on a little piece of land
And we live way up on the 57th floor
And this is what we do when we open the door
Take the elevator up
Take the elevator down x3
And we turn around