Language Learning Through Song

Singing is a powerful way to help children develop language skills and many children enjoy the repetition and structure of songs. Here’s how you can use singing to expand language learning at home:

1. Repetition Builds Vocabulary

Songs naturally repeat words and phrases, making it easier for kids to remember them. Repeating words in a fun, musical way helps with pronunciation and confidence. For example, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” repeats key words like "twinkle" and "star," reinforcing new vocabulary and opportunities for them to join in. In songs like “The Wheels on the Bus”, the same phrases appear over and over, helping children learn sentence structure and action words like “open” and “close”. This repetition leads to opportunities to teach words that repeat over and over and use early baby signs to accompany the songs.

2. Cloze Sentences Encourage Speech

A cloze sentence is when you leave out a word and let the child fill in the blank. This builds anticipation and encourages verbal participation. Try singing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and pausing before the animal sound:
“Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-____!”
While it make take a little while for a child to learn that you want them to join in, continue stopping and allowing at least 5 seconds to pass before saying “O” yourself and continuing on with the song.

3. Movement Strengthens Learning

Adding gross motor movements to songs helps children connect language with actions, making learning more interactive. Songs like “If You’re Happy and You Know It” or “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” encourage kids to move their bodies while reinforcing key vocabulary. Movements make words more meaningful and help children remember them better.

4. Songs Teach Sentence Structure

Simple songs help children understand how words fit together in a sentence. For example, “This Is the Way We Wash Our Hands” teaches action phrases in a structured way.
“This is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth…”
Songs like this expose kids to grammatical structures they may not use yet in their daily communication but may start to imitate from songs.

5. Fun Rhymes Build Pre-Literacy Skills

Songs with rhyming words help kids hear different sounds in words, which supports pre-literacy skills. “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and “Five Little Monkeys” both use rhymes that make language playful and engaging.