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Round Up: The Easiest Fall Songs for Your Toddler or Preschooler
The school year is starting, so you know what that means – time to learn some new fall songs for toddlers and preschoolers! While some of us are still baking in the summer sun, it seems difficult to think of fall songs, but it will be here soon enough. So, it’s time to switch from summer mode to a cozy, fall frame of mind.
So, what songs make you think of fall?
Luckily, in autumn there are SO MANY themes to choose from. There are several holidays to choose from, like harvest festivals, festivals celebrating the changing light, or even celebrations of life and death. And as with many festivities, there are almost certainly many songs that accompany them. Just think about how often you have playlists for your holidays or celebrations!
But what about easy, fall songs for toddlers and preschoolers that they can easily sing? For that, we turn to the changing season around us for inspiration. So, children’s fall-themed songs tend to be about the changing weather, pumpkins, spiders, leaves changing colors, or even apples – just to name a few!
Seriously, there are so many fall themes to choose from. And all the songs below are super simple to learn. Just take a look!
But wait! Why are there so few YouTube links here?
First, you will find only a few links here to YouTube videos because these are songs that you can easily sing! I encourage ALL parents, regardless of your own perceived talent level, to sing to your child.
These songs are based upon widely known nursery rhymes and the simple melodies that accompany them have been around for generations. And your children, whether they are babies, toddlers or preschoolers, will benefit more when you sing to them.
Yes, exposing your child to music in any way can be beneficial. But, if you really want them to engage them with music, to engage with you, then they are much better off when you sing to them. Singing one of these songs once will take less than 5 minutes!
Second, young children are typically drawn more to the visual aspects of these videos than they are the audio aspect. Simply put, they can hear the music and words, but they tend to focus more on the images they see.
If you do want a playlist of YouTube videos with fall themed children’s songs, then I can recommend Sheryl Cooper’s Preschool Fall Songs over at Teaching 2 and 3 year Olds. Not only will you find links to loads of fall-themed children’s songs and fingerplays, but you’ll also find printable props to go with many of the songs. Even better, many of the songs she mentions are gathered into handy playlists that are available on Spotify – a much better alternative to YouTube for children.
What song should I sing with my toddler?
You are in a privileged position as parent since you more than likely know what your toddler or preschooler enjoys! There are loads of songs you can sing to or with your toddler. Just pick one based on their abilities or energy level. Make it relevant to your surroundings. And most importantly, if you have fun and engage with them, they are more likely to enjoy it, too!
Are they energetic and active? Then try out one of the songs that encourages moving about or works with their gross motor skills, like “Scarecrow, Scarecrow, Turn Around”.
Perhaps they are starting to learn their numbers? Then try one of these fall songs that works with numbers, like “5 Little Pumpkins” or “5 Shiny Conkers”.
Facing another rainy day inside? Check out the chant I mention below called “Splash Fall the Raindrops”. Or even just sparking a general curiosity about the weather with the song “What’s the Weather?” might get them going.
Starting to see lots of pumpkin decorations about? Then try singing “I’m a Little Pumpkin” when walking about the neighbourhood.
Just take your pick and make it engaging and fun!
Which Fall Songs for Toddlers and Preschoolers Are There?
So, because you are probably busy, I’ve rounded up some of the easiest fall songs for toddler and preschoolers. These songs are beneficial for you because they are short (making them easy to learn) and they are based upon melodies of songs you already know (making them easy to memorize!).
If you haven’t read my list of the 12 best songs for any parent to learn, go have a look now! Not only will you find songs that you already know, but you’ll find out WHY these songs are so beneficial for your children.
Additionally, once you’ve learned even a single song from below, make sure you take a look at the 30+ ways you can use that song! Essentially, you could choose one song for an entire month’s worth of ideas – in less than 5 minutes a day.
So, here they are: Fall Songs for Toddlers and Preschoolers
The Teaching Mama, 10 Autumn Songs for Preschoolers
You’ll always find loads of great songs, chants, and fingerplay ideas from the Teaching Mama. But this fall-themed list is excellent! Apples are a prevalent theme with her list, but there are other topics as well.
Top Pick: Scarecrow, Scarecrow
Scarecrow, Scarecrow, turn around,
Scarecrow, Scarecrow, touch the ground.
Scarecrow, Scarecrow, reach up high.
Scarecrow, Scarecrow, touch the sky.
Scarecrow, Scarecrow, bend down low,
Scarecrow, Scarecrow, touch your toes.
This can be used as a great chant to get your little ones moving around. Or, you can actually sing this to the melody of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. Either way, it’s a great way to get your little ones active.
If you want other music and movement chants/songs like this one, check out my free set of song cards that follow the same pattern. Sign up here to get your free song cards delivered straight to your inbox.
Let’s Play Music, Autumn Songs for Kids
Sara has some great songs here, many of which are based upon those well-known children’s songs. The songs she has on this fall-themed song list use many of the best fall themes, like the different colored leaves, chestnuts (or conkers as they’re called in the UK), the changing of the seasons, and harvest songs.
Top Pick: Autumn Leaves are Falling Down (sung to “London Bridge is Falling Down”)
Autumn leaves are falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
Autumn leaves are falling down,
To the ground.
Find a broom and start to sweep,
Start to sweep, start to sweep,
Find a broom and start to sweep,
Make a pile.
And make them in a great big heap,
Great big heap, great big heap,
Pile them in a great big heap,
On the ground.
But here comes the wind to blow them round,
Blow them round, blow them round,
Here comes the wind to blow them round,
All around.
What I like about the list here is that it doesn’t simply list songs. She provides suggestions for similarly themed lesson plans that you can use with your own children. AND, you’ll find out what each song can teach your child. So, it’s not just a simple song list, but rather a springboard for learning!
Finally, if you pick one of the songs are aren’t quite familiar with the original tune, you’ll find a video included on the page that plays you a simple version of the melody.
Childhood 101: 20 Seasonal Finger Plays & Action Songs: Spring and Autumn
This list is another great collection of seasonal songs! You’ll find spring-themed songs at the top, so make sure you scroll down to find the fall-themed children’s songs. Many of the songs here are about the fall leaves and apples, but there are some great songs about a frog, scarecrows, and even hanging the laundry out in the fall!
Top Pick: Leaves are Falling (Sung to “Are You Sleeping”)
Leaves are falling (children stand, hold arms high and wiggle fingers like leaves falling from branches)
Leaves are falling
To the ground (crouch down to the ground)
To the ground
Look at all the colors (stand and swirl arms all around)
Look at all the colors
Red yellow brown!
Red yellow brown!
This is another great example of using a well-known melody for a new purpose! Plus, she adds some great movements to the song so your little one will be moving about.
Try singing this song outside with your little one and have them find examples of each colored leaf! Or they might just enjoying jumping into a pile of multi-colored leaves.
DLTK’s Sites for Kids, Autumn Poem’s and Children’s Songs
This particular page is great because it not only lists a few fall-themed songs, but it also gives you some great poems by well-known poets! These are great to read to your little ones mainly because poetry itself can be highly rhythmic.
You’ll also find a fall-themed Aesop’s Fable, plus some nursery rhymes. If you want even more options, you’ll find Thanksgiving-themed poems, songs, and nursery rhymes listed here.
Top Pick: I’m a Little Pumpkin (sung to “I’m a Little Teapot”)
I’m a little pumpkin,
Orange and round.
Here is my stem,
I grew on the ground.
When I get all cut up,
Don’t you shout!
Just open me up
And scoop me out!
This will be a great song to sing while carving your Halloween pumpkin! And maybe you can even get your little ones involved in scooping out (and exploring) the insides of the pumpkin. At the very least, you can teach them a great pumpkin song!
Preschool Inspirations, The Best Fall Songs for Preschool
This particular list of fall songs is grouped by theme and includes videos to each song. You’ll find the following themes: apples, leaf songs, movements and action songs for fall, squirrel and acorns, and pumpkins! Many of these songs are easy for you to learn as they are based upon well-known melodies.
Top Pick: Five Little Pumpkins, by Super Simple Songs
This is one of my favorite picks mostly because it’s by Super Simple Songs. My little ones enjoy their songs and honestly, their songs are some of the better ones out there.
Super Simple Songs bases some of their songs on nursery rhymes or well-known melodies. And, their musical style is easy to listen to – both for children and adults!
Five Little Pumpkins is based upon a well-known melody. There are a few other songs/chants called “Five Little Pumpkins” but this one is completely different! The song goes through several emotions that your child might find engaging and the music of each verse is changed slightly to reflect that emotion.
Jbrary, Fall or Autumn Storytime
Now, this is an excellent resource for parents (not just teachers!). Actually, it seems like the videos are designed more to illustrate songs or fingerplays and their accompanying movements. Your little one might not find the videos entertaining. So, pick a song or two to learn and give it a few tries.
Top Pick: Splash Fall the Raindrops
Splash fall the raindrops (fingers wiggle downward and then splash on the knees or ground)
To the ground they go (clap hands on knees or ground then move outward)
We need the rain (nodding head)
To help the flowers grow (raise arms above head and open fists to make a flower)
This is actually a chant that you can easily learn! It’s quite short and the video gives a few tips of how to make this work with toddlers, too.
Consider changing the last line of “to help the flowers grow” to other things, like “to help to trees grow” or “to help the apples grow” or even “to help the pumpkins grow”. You can then use hand of finger movements to accompany each plant.
So, there you have my round up of the very best fall/autumn themed children’s songs! If you liked a particular song or chant, make sure to follow the link to that page. In many cases you’ll find some printables of that song or a helpful video to help you learn the song.
Which fall song if your favorite to sing with your little one? Let me know in the comments below!
As always, happy music making!
Liz