Help young children develop early literacy skills by making up songs based on familiar tunes

One of my favorite ways to help young children develop early literacy skills is by making up songs based on familiar tunes. It’s not just effective—it’s incredibly fun! Music has a magical way of making information stick, and when you set new lyrics to a tune kids already know, they pick it up even faster.

Take something as simple as learning their address or my phone number. Instead of drilling it into their heads, I turn it into a catchy song. Singing “123 Oak Street, that’s where I live!” to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” makes it memorable and enjoyable. Suddenly, they’re humming it all day and effortlessly absorbing important information.

Songs also help with phonological awareness—the ability to hear and play with sounds in words—which is a crucial early literacy skill. When kids sing, they naturally break words into syllables, stretch out vowel sounds, and learn about rhyme and rhythm, all of which prepare them for reading. Plus, singing encourages them to engage with language in a way that feels like play.

The best part? Songs can be about anything! Need to teach colors? “If you’re wearing red today, clap your hands!” Want to build vocabulary? A silly song about zoo animals will do the trick. Whether it’s numbers, days of the week, or even kindness and sharing, music makes learning stick in a joyful way.

For me, writing songs to familiar tunes isn’t just a teaching tool—it’s a way to bond, laugh, and create lasting memories. It turns everyday moments into learning opportunities, making literacy a natural and delightful part of a child’s world.

 *Five Plump and Perky Penguins written to the tune of Five Green and Speckled Frogs" to be released on February 19th!  Order a copy today:  at Barnes & Noble, and in Australia at Booktopia  Available at other locations soon!