Dr. Oralie McAfee stated in an article on Promoting Preschoolers’ Language Development that “Language development in young children means a progressive increase in the amount and complexity of the language they understand and express…”

For many children, language and literacy skills are learned more readily through music than any other way.  Current research and theory emphasizes helping young children through song lyrics, which introduces vocabulary and sound patterns and increases their understanding and skills.

Every culture speaks through music so it is important to respect the variety of differences and try to create a learning environment that supports and empowers each and every child.  The following strategies focus on the use of integrating diversity by using music language activities.  Begin by celebrating children’s families, and reflecting on their uniqueness.  Singing songs in other languages provides a fun, and unifying experience.

Infants: Frere Jacques – Hang a mobile above the changing table with pictures of children eating, sleeping, playing indoor and outside in a stroller.  Infant will imitate our gestures if we repeat them and give them time to respond.

1.  Traditional: Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques, Dormez vous?  Dormez vous?

Sonnez les matines, Sonnez les matines, Din, din, don.  Din, din, don.

Are you sleeping?  Are you sleeping?  Brother Jack, Brother Jack,

Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing, Ding, ding, dong.  Ding, ding, dong.

2.  You’re going to eat (sleep, play, go outside) 2x’s Child’s full name (2x’s)

You’re going to have, a very good time. Child’s full name (2x’s)

Toddlers: Buenos Dias – Sung to the tune of Happy Birthday.  The key to remembering is repetition, which increases the early onset of language.

Buenos Dias a (Child’s name) Buenos Dias a (Child’s name)

Buenos Dias a (Child’s name) Buenos Dias a (Child’s name)

“Buenos Dias” is Spanish for “Hello.”  Repeat the song each morning using all the children’s names.  You can vary the language using the different languages below.

Preschoolers: You Sing a Song from “Travellin’with Ella Jenkins, a Bilingual Journey”

This song helps children learn greetings in many languages.

You sing a song, and I’ll sing a song.  And we’ll sing a song together.

You sing a song, and I’ll sing a song.  In warm or wintery weather.

You say “Hello” and I’ll say “Hello.”  And we’ll say “Hello” together.

You say “Hello” and I’ll say “Hello.”  In warm or wintery weather.

“Buenos Dias.” (Spanish) “Bon Jour.” (French) “Kon Nichi Wa” (Japanese)

“Ciao” (Italian) “Shalom” (Hebrew) “Aloha” (Hawaiian) “Guten Tag” (German)

Each time we use a rhyme we are laying the foundations for our children’s future learning and life experiences.                                                              (Jane Cobb)