Songs for kids
Top 25 classic kids songs every generation knows
Traditional nursery songs and campfire standards, nearly all public domain, that grandparents, parents and children all know. Versions by Cocomelon, Super Simple and Raffi are good places to start.
Compiled Oct 2026 from the standard children's song repertoire (Library of Congress and Wikipedia song histories). Song dates are earliest known published versions or approximate. Traditional songs have no single author. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Traditional (poem by Jane Taylor, 1806) · 1806 · Ages 0-6
The first song many children learn; the tune is an old French folk song.
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Wheels on the Bus
Cocomelon · 2018 · Ages 1-5
Cocomelon's animated take on the traditional song, with verses toddlers can act out.
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Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Traditional · 1917 · Ages 1-6
A farm and animal-sounds game with endless verses.
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Itsy Bitsy Spider
Traditional · 1910 · Ages 0-6
A hand-motion song with a rain-and-sun story.
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Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Traditional · 1852 · Ages 1-8
A round for two or more voices.
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Mary Had a Little Lamb
Traditional (Sarah Josepha Hale, 1830) · 1830 · Ages 1-6
A short, easy-to-recall story rhyme.
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London Bridge Is Falling Down
Traditional · 1700s · Ages 1-7
A circle-game song with an arch game.
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Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Traditional · 1912 · Ages 1-6
A body-part touching song that can get faster and faster.
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If You're Happy and You Know It
Traditional · 1957 · Ages 1-6
A clap-stomp-shout song with easy verse swaps.
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BINGO
Traditional · 1780s · Ages 2-6
A letter-by-letter spelling song with a missing-letter game.
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Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
Traditional chant · 1980s · Ages 1-5
A counting-down song with a rhyme.
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The Hokey Pokey
Traditional (modern versions 1940s) · 1940s · Ages 1-8
A put-your-left-foot-in dance that is the classic party game.
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This Old Man
Traditional · 1900s · Ages 2-6
A counting-to-ten song with rhyming verses.
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The Ants Go Marching
Traditional (Civil War-era roots) · 1860s · Ages 2-7
A counting song with a rhyme for each number.
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She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain
Traditional · 1890s · Ages 3-9
A call-and-response campfire song.
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Pop Goes the Weasel
Traditional · 1700s · Ages 1-6
A jack-in-the-box song with a pop on the last beat.
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Hush, Little Baby
Traditional · 1800s · Ages 0-5
A soft lullaby with a long list of promised gifts.
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Rock-a-Bye Baby
Traditional · 1765 · Ages 0-3
A cradle lullaby.
Watch for: The 'cradle will fall' line surprises some parents.
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Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
Traditional · 1744 · Ages 1-5
A nursery tune sung to the same melody as Twinkle.
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Jingle Bells
James Lord Pierpont · 1857 · Ages 1-12
A winter sleigh-ride song; originally 'One Horse Open Sleigh'.
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Happy Birthday to You
Mildred and Patty Hill · 1893 · Ages 1-13
The most sung song in English; a US court ruled it public domain in 2016.
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You Are My Sunshine
Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell · 1939 · Ages 0-13
A gentle sing-along; the verses are sad but the chorus is simple.
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This Land Is Your Land
Woody Guthrie · 1940 · Ages 3-13
A folk song about sharing the country; first written in 1940.
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Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer · 1908 · Ages 3-13
The seventh-inning stretch standard.
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Skip to My Lou
Traditional · 1840s · Ages 2-7
A partner-switching play-party song.
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