10 Different Songs That Instantly Make Kids Smile

There’s something about a familiar tune that brings joy to children everywhere, even when they’re not feeling much like laughing. Even adults with less-than-stellar singing voices can light up a little one’s face by bursting into a favorite song; here are ten tried-and-true tunes guaranteed to do the trick.

1. “Itsy Bitsy Spider” – Toddlers especially love the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” song, even if they lack the fine motor skills to replicate the hand motions themselves. This song always tends to fascinate little kids, and they are usually overjoyed watching an adult perform the motions as they sing along.
2. “This Old Man” – The highly customizable “This Old Man” inspires paroxysms of giggles, especially when a grown up plays “knick knack” on a little head and makes dramatic work of “rolling home.”
3. “You Are My Sunshine” – Though it’s more mellow than most of its companions on this list, there’s something quite uplifting about “You Are My Sunshine,” assuming that the second verse with its themes of loss and sorrow are omitted.
4. “Bingo” – The beloved archetype of the kid-song farmer makes his list debut with “Bingo,” a ditty about his dog complete with requisite hand clapping and spelling sure to keep kids joining in and laughing the whole way.
5. “London Bridge” – Despite the rumored dark origins of “London Bridge,” chronicling the many disasters that the structure endured, it’s a favorite of kids. With enough bodies, there’s even a corresponding pantomime game in which one participant attempts to elude capture during the line, “take the key and lock her up, lock her up…”
6. “Ring around the Rosie” – Taking a cue from the morbid history surrounding “London Bridge,” another perennial childhood favorite is “Ring around the Rosie,” which may or may not be about the plague epidemic in 16^th century England. Either way it certainly is a never-fail hit with kids.
7. “The Farmer in the Dell” – Singing “The Farmer in the Dell” without playing the corresponding game is fun for children in itself; adding enough participants to act out the story just piles on the amusement.
8. “If You’re Happy and You Know It” – There’s something irresistible about the clapping accompaniment to the rollicking tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” that gets kids moving and laughing every time.
9. “Old MacDonald” – The old Farmer makes his third appearance with the nursery staple “Old MacDonald,” which allows kids to interject any animal they can think of along with their corresponding sounds.
10. “Hokey Pokey” – Today, even very young children lead a more sedentary lifestyle than those of previous generations. A rousing round of “Hokey Pokey” gets everyone up and moving, interacting with one another while trying to sing around the volley of chuckles that inevitably ensue.

These are just a few of the classic kids’ songs that seem to never go out of style; combing through your own childhood memories is sure to net dozens more that fit the bill and keep the fun going indefinitely.

Taken From Live In Nanny