Previously, I introduced the concept of “Silly Songs,” and today, I’m excited to delve deeper into what they are, why they’re so effective, when to use them, and how I integrate them into my role as a content creator for payoffsong.com, specializing in educational content.
What Exactly Are Silly Songs?
The term “silly songs” originated quite organically. During circle time one day, a child asked, “Hayley, can we sing that silly song from yesterday?” The name resonated instantly, and it stuck!
Essentially, a silly song is any song that embraces the absurd and playful. It might have an abstract theme, incorporate funny dances, feature nonsensical lyrics, or simply be a familiar song made silly through actions and interpretations. I use silly songs throughout the day – for good morning greetings, during circle time, at snack and lunchtime, while getting dressed, even when settling down for sleep. Their versatility is truly endless.
Why Incorporate Silly Songs? The Educational Payoff
There are several compelling reasons why I champion the use of silly songs in early childhood education. It’s important to remember that children learn languages and concepts differently than adults. While I might struggle to maintain a consistent Duolingo streak myself, children absorb language through play and repetition in a way that’s both natural and incredibly effective.
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Embracing Mistakes and Playful Language Exploration: Silly songs create a safe space for children to experiment with language without the fear of being wrong. They encourage children to play with words, sounds, and rhythms, fostering a crucial understanding that making mistakes is a natural and valuable part of learning.
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Boosting Children’s Confidence and Engagement: In the realm of silly songs, there are no right or wrong answers. This liberating aspect is particularly beneficial for children who are typically shy or anxious about making errors. Silly songs provide an accessible entry point for participation, allowing all children to engage, have fun, and build confidence in their abilities.
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Injecting Energy and Re-engagement: Every preschool teacher knows those days when a planned activity simply doesn’t capture the children’s interest. Just like adults, children sometimes need a break or a change of pace. Silly songs are perfect for these moments. They don’t feel like formal “learning” and don’t put pressure on children to produce specific responses. I vividly recall a class that seemed completely uninterested in a circle time lesson about Australia. However, through a silly song about Australian animals, they absorbed so much information without even realizing they were “learning.” Imagine, preschoolers in Europe knowing what a kookaburra is – all thanks to a silly song!
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Learning Through Music and Play: Music is an incredibly powerful tool for children’s learning, especially in language acquisition. Silly songs harness this power by combining music with playful engagement. By demonstrating that learning can be fun and lighthearted, silly songs cultivate a positive association with education and make the learning process enjoyable.
When to Unleash the Silly Songs: Timing is Everything
As I mentioned earlier, silly songs are adaptable and can be integrated into virtually any part of the daily routine and for almost any activity. They can be familiar favorites, brand new songs, or even spontaneously created in the moment. The beauty of a silly song lies in its flexibility – it doesn’t even necessarily need to be logical or coherent!
Silly Songs in Action: Practical Examples
Circle Time: Warming Up and Wiggling Out
In the mornings, I often use silly songs during circle time as a lively warm-up to set a positive tone for the day and help children release pent-up energy – getting those “wiggles out.” One of my go-to songs before transitioning to seated activities is “The Jellyfish.”
Alt text: Animated jellyfish characters singing and dancing in an underwater scene, promoting a cute jellyfish song for kids.
What makes “The Jellyfish” song so effective?
- Energy Release: As mentioned, young children aren’t designed to sit still and listen for extended periods without some form of active engagement. This song allows them to move and expend energy before focusing on quieter activities.
- Teacher Focus and Engagement: Instead of battling for attention with “shushing,” silly songs use children’s natural energy to their advantage. Excitement becomes a tool for engagement, drawing their focus to the teacher or whoever is leading circle time.
- Repetition for Language Acquisition: A cornerstone of language learning, repetition is naturally embedded in songs. The repeated words and phrases in silly songs help children become comfortable with new vocabulary and language structures, aiding comprehension and usage.
- Developing Focus and Listening Skills: Participating in a silly song, even with its inherent silliness, requires children to listen attentively and follow instructions. They need to understand the lyrics and actions to join in, which subtly enhances their focus and listening skills.
Transitioning: Making Movement Fun and Musical
Moving between different areas in a preschool, especially with larger groups of children, can be a logistical challenge. I’ve found that using silly songs during transitions makes the process smoother and more enjoyable. I always have my class line up and prepare to sing a song before moving from one room to another. Initially, we used a simple soldier’s march (“left, left, left, right, left”), but when other classes adopted it, we sought a more unique and “silly” approach.
That’s when we discovered the musical genius of Laurie Berkner and her “We Are the Dinosaurs” song.
Alt text: Cartoon dinosaurs marching and stomping in a music video frame promoting Laurie Berkner’s “We Are the Dinosaurs” song for children.
This song became our official transition anthem, and the children adored it! We even managed to maintain a relatively quiet volume – for dinosaurs, at least. Another fun transition phrase the children loved was simply saying, “Let’s get ready to RUMBLE!” Even after I left my previous school, I was touched to hear that the children continued using this playful transition routine, demonstrating the lasting impact of silly songs.
Quiet Time or Story Time: Calming Down with Silliness
Quiet time or story time, often scheduled before or after lunch or naps, usually involves a calming story. However, sometimes stories alone aren’t enough to settle high energy levels. In these situations, silly songs can be incredibly effective in capturing children’s attention and gently guiding them towards a calmer state.
One of my recent favorite silly songs for quiet time, taught to me by a teacher at a Montessori school, is “The Ugly Buzzard.” It’s wonderfully silly, primarily because of the funny faces you can make while singing it. While I wish I could share a video of my class enjoying it, privacy concerns prevent that. You’ll have to imagine it!
Alt text: A person demonstrates the “Ugly Buzzard” song with silly facial expressions in a Facebook Watch video thumbnail, showcasing a fun song for children.
We start with five “ugly buzzards” and count down as they “fly away,” gradually decreasing our volume each time. Although the song is silly and involves funny faces and actions, it effectively engages the children and encourages them to mimic our decreasing volume. This makes it a perfect tool for transitioning to quiet time.
Music Time: Embracing Uninhibited Silliness
Of course, music time is an ideal opportunity for silly songs! This is the time to encourage children to be as loud and silly as possible – the more outlandish, the better, in my opinion. Music time is a fantastic platform for children to create their own silly songs, rhymes, and actions. We always make time for everyone to share their silly creations (often they are beloved, familiar silly songs) and have a blast together.
So, get singing, get silly, and please share any silly song gems you think I should add to my repertoire! 😊
