Fun Songs to Help Toddlers Talk: Boost Speech & Language Development

Are you looking for techniques to help your child learn to talk? Toddlers can learn to talk better with music! "I recall how worried I was when my kid didn't have as many words as the other toddlers her age. The first thing our speech therapist told us to do wasn't to use a flashcard; it was to sing. To sing "The Wheels on the Bus" for the hundredth time, but with a twist. Those ridiculous songs were our secret weapon, and I'm going to tell you exactly how to utilize them to get your child to talk.

How Music Enhances Speech Development.

A. The Science Behind Music and Language Skills.

Have you ever wondered why your child can sing songs before they can talk? It's not a coincidence.

Music makes both sides of the brain work at the same time, which conventional speaking doesn't accomplish. The rhythm and melody of songs assist your youngster learn how to break language down into smaller parts. 

Think about it: songs break apart words, stress syllables, and repeat important phrases. Toddlers learn best when they hear patterns over and over, so this repetition is great for them. Research indicates that musical activities enhance phonological awareness, the capacity to discern and manipulate the sounds within words.  When you sing "The Wheels on the Bus" and make the "round and round" sounds louder, you're actually helping your toddler learn how to recognize the difference between different noises.  That's rather wonderful, isn't it?

B. Musical Expectations for Toddlers That Are Right for Their Age

It's quite natural for your 1-year-old not to be able to sing all the words.  At this point, they might hop or clap to the beat and maybe even sing along to songs they know.

 When your child is two, you'll see them repeating words and executing the actions to songs like "Itsy Bitsy Spider."

 Around the age of three, a lot of kids can sing parts of songs on their own and even make up their own small melodies.

 Keep in mind that every child grows and learns at their own speed.  The most important thing is to make music joyful and stress-free.  Be happy when they join in, even if it's just one word or sound!

C. Making a Musical Environment Full with Language

 Make your regular routine into chances to make music!  Time for a bath?  There is a song about that.  Putting on clothes?  Write a funny song about putting on socks.

 Your music library doesn't have to be fancy.  Songs that are easy to sing along to, have clear vocabulary, and have rhythms that are fun and phrases that repeat are great.  When you can, add movement to songs. Dancing, clapping, or playing with your fingers are all fun ways to make songs more interesting and help kids remember what they represent.

 Try using song cards with illustrations of different songs on them and allowing your child pick which one to sing next.  Before kids have all the words, this simple gadget helps children practice talking.

 Most importantly, get involved yourself!  Your kid doesn't care if you can't sing; they just enjoy that you're there.  Singing together not only teaches language, but it also builds connections and makes happy memories that make learning feel natural. 

Top Action Songs That Encourages verbal Skill

A. Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes: Words for Body Parts

Have you ever observed how your child lights up when you sing and point to bodily parts? "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" is not only a pleasant song; it's also a great way to learn! Singing this song with your toddler helps them connect words with body parts they can see and touch.

Start with the basics and go slowly at first. Then, when they get the feel of it, accelerate up. The idea is to do it over and over again. Your youngster might start by just observing you, then pointing, and then name the parts themselves.

Here are some fun changes you can make:

Include more bodily parts, such as "elbows, tummy, fingers, and nose."

Say some lines softly and then sing others loudly.

Freeze after you name each portion to make it even funnier.

B. The Wheels on the Bus: Words and Sounds That Make You Move

"The Wheels on the Bus" is a great song for helping kids learn to talk. What makes this music so beautiful? There are a lot of action words and sound effects in it that babies love to copy.

When you sing about wheels moving "round and round" and move your body in circles, you're teaching verbs that correspond with movements. The "swish, swish, swish" of the wipers and the "beep, beep, beep" of the horn are great for rehearsing the sounds that come before words.

Your child might start by making the "shhh" sound when the infants cry before they can sing the whole song. That's completely normal and a big start in the right direction! Keep up the good work with those sound effects. They will help you speak more clearly.

Make it more fun by having plush animals ride the bus as passengers.

Making simple props like a fake steering wheel

Taking turns conjuring up fresh lines about what else could be on the bus

C. If You're Happy and You Know It: How to Show Your Feelings

This song achieves two things at once: it teaches your toddler about feelings and helps them learn to talk. You are providing your child language to say how they feel when you sing "If You're Happy and You Know It." This can help them avoid numerous tantrums in the future.

This idea is very evident for young minds since it connects the feeling ("happy") to the action ("clap your hands") in a straightforward way. Also, the way it repeats makes it easy for toddlers to guess what will happen next.

Try adding these different emotions to your writing:

"If you know you're sad, say 'boo hoo'"

"If you know you're angry, stomp your feet."

"If you know you're tired, yawn."

Watch The Whole Video Here

"Pro Tip: If your child is upset, modify the lyrics to "If you're ANGRY and you know it, stamp your feet!" This gives kids a way to express their feelings and builds their language at the same time.

The song's built-in words ("hooray!") provide your toddler chances to talk, even if they're not ready for the whole thing yet.

D. Itsy Bitsy Spider: Finger Play and Putting Things in Order

The finger movements in "Itsy Bitsy Spider" do a lot more than merely keep your youngster busy. Those hand movements that are in sync with each other really help the brain grow in ways that are related to speaking! When you sing about the spider climbing while helping your child do the action, you are helping them improve their fine motor skills, which will help them speak clearly later on.

The clear order of events in this song is what makes it distinctive. The spider climbs up, the rain washes it down, the sun comes out, and the cycle starts over. This helps your youngster learn about order and what happens when things go wrong. It also helps them learn words like "up," "down," "out," and "again."

It's typical for your child to be able to do the hand motions before they can say the words. Keep singing, and eventually they'll start to make noises, then words, and finally full phrases.

Nursery Rhymes That Build Phonological Awareness

A. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: A Fun Way to Practice Saying Words Clearly

Have you ever observed how your child's eyes light up when you sing "Twinkle Twinkle"?  This classic is not only cute, but it also helps with pronunciation!  The lyrics are simple and repeat a lot, which is great for toddlers who are learning how to produce noises.

 When you sing this with your youngster, slow down a little and stress the T sounds ("twinkle," "star").  These consonants can be hard for kids, but the song's slow speed gives them time to study your mouth and try to replicate what you do.

 Give this a shot:  When you sing about stars, point to the sky. This will make the connection between words and meanings stronger by making it a multi-sensory experience.  For further enjoyment, hold your toddler's hands and gently squeeze them in time with each syllable.

 B. Baa Baa Black Sheep: Building Consonants

 This sheep doesn't just give wool; it also helps you practice your consonants!  "Baa Baa Black Sheep" has a lot of hard B and K sounds that a lot of toddlers have trouble with.

 The best thing about this nursery rhyme is that it naturally helps your youngster to practice bilabial sounds (like "baa") in a joyful, low-pressure fashion.  The harsh K sound in "black" and the soft K sound in "sheep" are two different ways to practice.

 You may make it more fun by having your youngster pretend to be the sheep and you ask, "Do you have any wool?"  Now it's time to trade roles!  This back-and-forth is like how people talk to one other, and it teaches your child about taking turns while they practice their consonants.

 C. Humpty Dumpty: Patterns of Rhythm and Rhyme

 This rhyme will help your child's language skills, but poor Humpty suffered a big fall.  "Humpty Dumpty" is great for building phonological awareness since it has a clear beat and a rhyming structure that is easy to follow.

 The words "wall" and "fall" rhyme, which helps your toddler learn how to distinguish word endings that sound the same. This is an important ability for reading.  There are natural breaks in the rhythm when your child can fill in words, like that rewarding "faaaaaall" at the conclusion.

 Try clapping along to make the beat stand out.  This is another important phonological skill that helps your child break words into syllables.  You can also act it out with a plush animal or an egg, adding actions that help you remember what the words represent.

Creating Your Own Speed Boosting Songs

 

Adding Your Child's Name to Familiar Songs

 Hearing their own name is the quickest way to get a toddler's attention.  Change the words to songs like "The Wheels on the Bus" to make them more personal. For example, "Emma's hands go clap, clap, clap" or "Jacob's feet go stomp, stomp, stomp."  Your child will light up when they see it and want to participate in.

 You can use this simple method with any song you know.  When you sing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm," modify the words to "[Child's name] has a dog that says woof-woof."  This personal touch makes an instant connection and makes your child want to copy the noises.

 Songs for everyday tasks like cleaning up, taking a bath, and going to bed

 Make every day a chance to make music!  To the song of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush," sing "This is how we pick up toys, pick up toys, pick up toys" while you clean up.  Your youngster will start to connect the song with the action, which will make the changes go more smoothly.

 "Splash, splash, splash your hands" sung to "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" makes bath time exciting.  Add lines about cleaning different regions of the body to help people learn new words:  "Wash  your hair, wash  hair," and "Scrub your toes, scrub your toes."

 Make a nighttime routine with soft lullabies that have basic, repeated lines like "Time to sleep, time to dream, time to rest your sleepy head."  The predictable patterns help you relax while also strengthening your linguistic skills.

Using props and other visual aids to help kids learn

 Get a plush animal and make it "sing" with you.  Your youngster will be fascinated to see their teddy bear sing along to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," and they will probably try to say the words themselves.

 During singing time, picture cards are great.  As you sing, exhibit pictures of the actions. For example, hold up a card that shows someone jumping while you sing "Jump, Jump, Jump Around."  This relationship between sight and sound makes it easier to remember and understand words.

 Make a special "song basket" with things that have to do with your favorite songs.  For "Itsy Bitsy Spider," get out a toy spider, and for "Twinkle, Twinkle," get out a star.  The object gives your youngster something to focus on and makes learning more interesting by including more than one sense. 

Making Music Interactive for Maximum Speech Benefits

A. Call and Response Methods

Call and response can turn your music time into a discussion. Sing a line and then stop so your child can fill in the blank. Begin with easy songs like "If You're Happy and You Know It." Sing "If you're happy and you know it..." and wait for them to say or try to clap their hands. Even if they only make sounds and not distinct words, praise them for trying!

Choose songs for younger children that have sounds that repeat, such "E-I-E-I-O" in "Old MacDonald." "We began using 'call and respond' with my kid. I'd sing "Old MacDonald had a farm..." and then wait for weeks. After a long interval, she eventually grunted "E-I!" one day. It was a big step forward! That one sound made her want to try saying more words.

When your child starts to look forward to certain portions, you'll see them lean forward, ready to leap in. This back-and-forth is like a real discussion and helps kids learn how to take turns.

B. Using Instruments to Get People to Take Turns

Get some simple tools, like rice-filled containers or wooden spoons with pots, that you can make yourself. When you play "Pass the Instrument," you're really teaching people how to talk to each other. To help you remember these crucial ideas, take turns creating sounds and saying "my turn" and "your turn."

Try putting certain instruments with certain song characteristics. Shake the maracas as you sing about the frog, and tap the drum when you sing about the duck. Your youngster will soon start to correlate the sounds with the words and will eventually try to name both the animal and the instrument.

C. Games that involve moving and saying words

Your body can be the finest way to learn! Action songs make strong links between words and movements. When you sing "The Wheels on the Bus" and move your arms about, you're helping your child recall the word "wheels" in more than one way.

Make up your own songs about moving that are based on your regular habits. While you're giving your child a bath, sing "This is how we wash our arms, wash our arms, wash our arms" and show them how to do it. These real-life links between actions and words help toddlers remember what they hear.

D. Activities for recording and playing back

Kids love hearing their own voices! Use your phone to record yourself singing and then listen to the recordings. When your child hears their own voice, watch their face light up. Use this excitement to get them to talk more.

Make a basic song about your day, record it, and add to it every night. "We went to the park today and saw a dog." What else should we put in our song tomorrow? This makes your child excited and offers them a reason to come up with new terms. You can even email these recordings to family members so that your child has genuine people to talk to as they learn to speak.

Songs to help toddlers talk

It's amazing how music can change the way your toddler talks. You can make learning fun and naturally improve your child's communication abilities by using action songs that encourage them to talk, traditional nursery rhymes that help them understand sounds, and interactive musical experiences. Whether you're singing along to songs your child knows or making up your own songs to help them learn to speak better, the most important thing is to be consistent and involved.

Keep in mind that each child grows and learns at their own speed, so make sure that activities are fun and not stressful. Add music to your daily life, pay attention to what your child is interested in, and praise them when they try to talk. Not only are you helping your child's speech development by making music a regular part of their lives, you're also giving them happy memories and a love of language and song that will last a lifetime.

"My daughter won't stop chatting today. And every time I hear her sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" to her teddy bear, I remember that all those times she sang it weren't boring; they were important. Your path may be different, but the instrument is the same: joy, repetition, and connection.