Songs & Games for Toddlers

No longer a baby and not yet a preschooler, here is an album especially for the toddler: to grow into and to grow on.

All the songs in this collection are simple enough for 2 and 3-year-olds to actually sing, play, and do. Performed by Bob and early childhood music educator Katharine Smithrim, Songs & Games for Toddlers takes children at an age when they’re ready to start singing themselves and leads them simply and effectively through a repertoire that will have them bouncing, clapping, chanting, drumming, and singing.

Research shows that physical skills, the use of language, social interaction, self esteem, and pre-reading skills are all enhanced as children discover the joys of making music themselves.

Ideas For Teachers about how to use this CD in the classroom.

Track Listing

1. Your Name Is…
2. Rig A Jig Jig
3. Jack Be Nimble
4. Slithery Snake
5. Engine, Engine
6. Something in My Pocket
7. I Want to Do It Myself
8. A Ram Sam Sam
9. Here Is the Beehive
10. What Do You Suppose?
11. When You Are One
12. My Grandfather Clock
13. We’re Going to Kentucky
14. Shake Your Shaker Slowly
15. Tommy Thumbs Up
16. Zoom Zoom Zoom
17. Starlight, Starbright
18. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
19. Bumpin’ Up and Down
20. John the Rabbit
21. Hop Scotch Polka
22. Jelly in the Bowl
23. Walk When the Drum Says Walk
24. Five Little Ducks
25. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
26. Listen to the Water
27. It’s Raining, It’s Pouring/Rain, Rain, Go Away
28. Hold on Tight
29. Seat Belt On
30. I Went to See My Doctor
31. This Old Man
32. Hi Yah
33. Bell Horses
34. Frere Jacques
35. Criss, Cross
36. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
37. Seashell

Praise

“Songs, activities, and rhythms for the effervescent preschoolers are performed here with such artful simplicity that they can be listened to again and again with undiminished pleasure!”

Parents' Choice
“I bought this for my 2 y.o. grandson. Good choice as it is good quality singing and lots of songs to learn and “dance” to. Nice for playing in the car CD player.”

Amazon 5 Star Review

Reviews and Related Materials

5 STAR REVIEWS FROM AMAZON

“This is a GREAT CD for toddlers. I’m here on Amazon looking for something similar and saw it had no reviews. My 16-month-old and I have been listening to it for about 2 months and she knows lots of the words and actions. She likes listening to it in the car and at home. Her favorite is Hi Yah – I think because it is so simple that she can sing the whole thing herself with a drum or bells. She also particularly likes doing the actions to A Ram Sam Sam. Concepts like “high,” “low,” “over,” “under,” slowly,” and “quickly” have been solidified and it has added a whole slew of verbs to her vocabulary as well. Plus it is just plain FUN! She whines when we have to turn the CD off.” – Elizabeth

UPDATE 11/2013: My daughter is 4.5 years old now. This album occasionally comes up in the car (we have all our kids’ music play randomly). Just yesterday, my daughter was listening to it and said “Mom, these are really fun songs. We should listen to them more!” So these songs have a definite enduring quality that makes them well-worth owning.” -Elizabeth

Thanks for the update, Elizabeth. Glad you enjoyed the CD!! – Bob

A WORD FROM BOB

In the 70s, shortly after I became the music teacher on Sesame Street, I decided that I’d like to record a few songs for children. At the time, I was performing live family concerts with symphony orchestras in North America. A number of orchestral musicians in Canada told me about a record producer in Toronto by the name of Bill Usher who had produced several quality recordings for young children. I called Bill and he said that he and Katharine Smithrim were in the process of recording 2 LPs for babies and toddlers. They asked if I would like to be a part of the project. Having taught music classes for parents with babies and toddlers in Toronto, Katharine took the lead in choosing the material. We hit it off right from the start and had great fun with the project. Together, we recorded The Baby Record and Songs & Games for Toddlers. Both recordings have sold many thousands of copies over the years.