When it comes to teaching children how to sing and appreciate music, incorporating fun and interactive elements can make a world of difference. Sing games are an excellent way to achieve this goal while keeping young choristers engaged and enthusiastic about music. In this article, we’ll explore 20 singing games perfect for children’s choirs. Whether you’re a choir director, a teacher, or a parent looking to entertain and educate your child, these games will bring a harmonious twist to your music sessions.

1. Bobo Ski Waten Taten

Description: Bobo Ski Waten Taten is a playful and rhythmic sing game where children sing the catchy phrase repeatedly while performing corresponding actions, adding an element of physical engagement to the music.

How to Play:

• Gather the children in a circle.
• Start singing “Bobo Ski Waten Taten” while clapping your hands in rhythm.
• Encourage the children to imitate your actions and join in the singing.
• Gradually increase the tempo to make it more challenging and fun.

2. We’re Floating Down the River

Description: This game combines singing and storytelling, as children imagine they are floating down a river while singing the song.

How to Play:

• Have the children sit in a circle.
• Begin singing “We’re Floating Down the River” while swaying gently from side to side.
• Encourage the children to use their imagination and act out the scene as they sing along.
• You can also add hand movements to mimic rowing.

3. Brown Bear, Brown Bear

Description: Based on the beloved children’s book, this singing game incorporates animal sounds and movements, making it an enjoyable and educational activity.

How to Play:

• Each child represents a different animal from the book (e.g., Brown Bear, Red Bird).
• As you sing the song, each child makes the sounds and movements associated with their chosen animal.
• This game is not only fun but also helps children learn about different animals and their characteristics.

4. Green Sally

Description: Green Sally is a call-and-response singing game that’s both entertaining and instructive. It encourages listening skills and coordination.

How to Play:

• Designate one child as “Green Sally” and the others as “Red Molly.”
• Green Sally sings, “Green Sally up, Green Sally down,” while the rest respond with “Red Molly up, Red Molly down.”
• The game continues with Green Sally making up new verses, and Red Molly echoing her.

5. Old Brass Wagon

Description: Old Brass Wagon is a lively and repetitive sing game that’s perfect for getting children moving and singing together.

How to Play:

• Have the children stand in a circle.
• Begin singing “Old Brass Wagon” while holding hands and moving in a circle.
• The children can sing along and join in the movement.
• Gradually increase the speed for added excitement.

6. Dum Dum Song

Description: The Dum Dum Song is a rhythmic and humorous game that incorporates clapping and funny lyrics.

How to Play:

• Have the children sit in a circle.
• Sing the song, which includes phrases like “Dum dum, dum dum, biddly biddly bum.”
• The children should clap their hands in rhythm as they sing along.
• This game is a great way to teach rhythm and timing.

7. Circle Round the Zero

Description: Circle Round the Zero is a simple and repetitive sing games that focuses on coordination and movement.

How to Play:

• Have the children stand in a circle.
• Sing the song while they walk or skip in a circle.
• At the end of the song, stop and have them freeze.
• You can introduce variations like changing directions or switching from walking to skipping.

8. This Way, That Way

Description: This Way, That Way is a directional singing game that helps children learn left from right while having fun.

How to Play:

• Start singing the song, which includes the lyrics “This way, that way.”
• As you sing, the children should follow your directions and move accordingly.
• You can make it more challenging by singing faster or adding more complex directions.

9. The Singing Bee

Description: The Singing Bee is a game that combines singing and spelling, making it both educational and entertaining.

How to Play:

• Choose a word related to the choir’s theme (e.g., “music”).
• Have the children take turns singing the letters of the word in sequence (e.g., “M-U-S-I-C”).
• You can make it competitive by timing each child or having them spell longer words.

10. Sarasponda

Description: Sarasponda is a traditional Dutch singing game that involves clapping and hand movements.

How to Play:

• Teach the children the lyrics and movements of Sarasponda.
• As you sing, they should follow along with the appropriate claps and hand gestures.
• This game is not only fun but also helps develop coordination.

11. London Bridge

Description: London Bridge is a timeless singing games that involves forming an arch with raised arms while others pass underneath.

How to Play:

• Choose two children to be the “gatekeepers” who form the arch.
• The rest of the choir joins hands and walks under the arch while singing “London Bridge is falling down.”
• On the final line, the gatekeepers lower their arms to “catch” a child. That child joins the gatekeepers, and the game continues.

12. Engine, Engine Number Nine

Description: Engine, Engine Number Nine is a rhythmic game that involves clapping and singing while choosing a “secret number.”

How to Play:

• The choir claps a set number of times while singing the rhyme (e.g., “Engine, Engine, Number Nine, Going down Chicago line”).
• One child thinks of a secret number and responds with “My number is [number].”
• The choir continues clapping and singing until they reach the secret number. The child who guessed it becomes the new “secret number” keeper.

13. Farmer in the Dell

Description: Farmer in the Dell is a traditional circle game with singing, where children take on roles and interact.

How to Play:

• Children stand in a circle.
• One child starts as the “farmer” and selects another child (e.g., “the wife”).
• The chosen child then selects another, and so on, creating a chain of characters.
• Sing the song, incorporating the roles, and watch the story unfold as each character joins the circle.

14. Sally Go ‘Round the Sun

Description: Sally Go ‘Round the Sun is a fun and repetitive game that incorporates singing, clapping, and movement.

How to Play:

• The choir stands in a circle and holds hands.
• Begin singing “Sally, Sally go ’round the sun.”
• As you sing, the children move in a circle, following the rhythm.
• The game can become progressively faster, challenging coordination and timing.

15. Rig-a-Jig-Jig

Description: Rig-a-Jig-Jig is a lively and rhythmic singing game that encourages children to use their creativity.

How to Play:

• Have the children stand in a circle.
• Sing the song, which includes humorous lyrics like “This old man, he played one, he played knick-knack on my thumb.”
• Encourage the children to come up with their own playful verses, adding a personal touch to the game.

16. Mouse, Mousie

Description: Mouse, Mousie is a game of sing that involves choosing a “mousie” and a “cat” to chase it.

How to Play:

• Designate one child as the “mousie” and another as the “cat.”
• The mousie sings the song while moving around the circle.
• The cat tries to catch the mousie before the song ends.
• If caught, they switch roles for the next round.

17. Pease Porridge Hot

Description: Pease Porridge Hot is a delightful singing game that incorporates counting and hand-clapping.

How to Play:

• The choir sings “Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold, pease porridge in the pot, nine days old.”
• As they sing, they clap their hands to the rhythm.
• Each time they sing the rhyme, they count one day older until they reach “nine days old.”

18. See Saw Sacradown

Description: See Saw Sacradown is a gentle singing game that involves rocking and soothing motions.

How to Play:

• Have the children sit in a circle.
• Sing the song, which includes lyrics like “See saw sacradown, which is the way to London Town?”
• As they sing, the children rock gently from side to side, imitating the soothing motion of a cradle.

19. Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?

Description: “Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?” is a popular singing game that encourages children to take turns and guess who the “thief” is.

How to Play:

• Choose one child to start as the “thief.”
• The thief sings, “Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?”
• Another child responds, “Who, me?”
• The thief then names someone else (e.g., “Yes, you!”) who becomes the new thief.

20. I See the Moon

Description: “I See the Moon” is a calming and melodic singing game that can be used as a lullaby.

How to Play:

• Sing the soothing lullaby while the children listen or sway gently.
• You can use this game as a relaxing and peaceful way to conclude a choir session.

Conclusion

Incorporating sing games into your children’s choir sessions can transform music education into an enjoyable and interactive experience. These 10 singing games are just the beginning. Keep an eye out for the next part of this article, where we’ll explore 10 more exciting games to keep young voices in harmony.

Remember, the key to successful music education for children is making it fun and engaging. By using these singing games, you’ll not only teach them about melody, rhythm, and teamwork but also instill a lifelong love for music. So, gather your children’s choir, pick a game, and let the musical adventures begin!