There are so many great reasons to include singing in your child’s day. For inspiration, here are two children’s transportation songs.
One of the most popular children’s transportation songs is The Wheels on the Bus. It’s been around for generations of kids and recorded by many children’s musicians and bands. There are translations in dozens and dozens of languages and lots of book versions too. Have you noticed its similar tune to Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush? Besides the regular verses, see if you and your child can add some more, such as:
The people in a hurry run real fast, run real fast, run real fast.
The people in a hurry run real fast, and holler WAIT.
Instead of a bus, use any other vehicles.
The wheels on a train go chug, chug, chug.
The whistle on a train goes toot, toot, toot.
The crossing on the track goes clang, clang, clang,
Another well-known song is Row, Row, Row Your Boat but you don’t only need to sing about boats.
Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.
Drive, drive, drive your can gently down the street.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a treat.
Fly, fly, fly your plane gently in the sky.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life’s too fun to cry.
Ride, ride, ride your bike gently down the route.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a hoot.
Singing encourages a tremendous number of brain connections. Besides supporting language and vocabulary, it helps with memory and encourages careful listening. Music uses a system of notes that go up and down, patterns, and spaces. Math also uses a system of numbers that go up and down, patterns, and spaces so songs prewire the brain for later math skills. Our own bodies contain rhythms and music can influence these and be calming or energizing. Actions mean brains have to handle several tasks at once. Songs have social and emotional aspects too.
Where will singing take you and your child?
