7 Creative Ways to Use Songs to Encourage Language Development in Kids

Using music is a fun, interactive way to encourage language! Songs are great for introducing new vocabulary, verbal and motor imitation, and increasing joint attention. Pair an activity with the songs or use toys (like puppets!) to add to the fun.

Here are a few speech therapy favorites:

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

This song can be helpful in labeling body parts and gesturing.

If You’re Happy and You Know It

Great for motor imitation and teaching action verbs.

Old McDonald

Build vocabulary by labeling animals and their sounds.

Ex: On that farm he had a (animal). E I E I O! With a (animal sound) here and an (animal sound) there...)

Play this song then find some animal toys to identify!

The Wheels on the Bus

Build core vocabulary with words like, “Open,” “Shut,” “Down”, and “Up.”

One Little Finger (Super Simple Songs)

Use gestures to label body parts and practice following directions.

Here Comes the Fire Truck (Super Simple Songs)

Learn symbolic sounds such as “Beep Beep,” or “Weo Weo.” Wave to the firetruck to practice greetings/farewells.

Me! (Super Simple Sounds)

Use gestures to label body parts.

Incorporating songs into daily routines is a fun and effective way to boost your child's language skills, from expanding their vocabulary to improving their understanding of rhythm and sentence flow. By choosing songs that are repetitive, engaging, and easy to follow, you create a playful environment where learning feels natural. If you're looking for more personalized strategies or support, speech and language therapy services can offer expert guidance tailored to your child’s unique needs, combining creativity and proven techniques to help them thrive.