Animal Songs for Toddlers: Farm Animals, Pets, Bugs and Dinosaurs

Toddlers love animals. They point at every dog on the street, they moo at cows in picture books and they want to know what every animal says. Animal songs turn that love into a fun way to learn new words, practice sounds and get moving.

Below are 10 animal songs for toddlers from Leigha Marina. Each song has a free cartoon video and the full lyrics on its song page. We grouped them by type: farm animals, pets, bugs, birds, dinosaurs and sleepy animal lullabies for bedtime.

Farm Animal Songs

Farm Animals

"Hi kids, welcome to the farm!" Five little penguins visit a farm, and they get to feed and pet the animals. They meet a horse, a cow, a dog, a duck, a pig, a sheep, a chicken and her chicks. Then everyone makes the sounds together: neigh, moo, woof, quack, oink, baa, cluck and peep. At the end, a donkey says "hee haw," and the penguins laugh.

Try this: Pause the video before each animal sound and let your toddler guess it first.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

This is our own version of the classic farm song. Old MacDonald has a cow, a pig, a duck, a horse, a sheep, some chickens, a dog and a goat. Each animal gets its own verse, with "a moo moo here and a moo moo there." The words repeat, so toddlers can join in fast.

Try this: Hold up a toy animal or a picture before each verse, so your child can match the animal to its sound.

Pet Songs

I Want to Have a Pet

The little penguins see other kids with pets and ask their mommy for one too. At the pet store they think about a puppy with a wiggly tail, a kitty who naps and purrs, a bunny who hops all day and a fish with a waving fin. Then they meet a little one who is furry, fluffy and cute. She is a hamster, and she becomes their new pet.

Try this: Ask your toddler, "Which pet would you pick?" Then act out that animal together, like hopping for a bunny or meowing for a kitty.

Bug Songs

I'm a Busy Bumblebee

A bee flies from flower to flower all day, collecting nectar and pollen to make honey. The bee spreads pollen to help plants grow and says it only stings things that want to hurt it. The chorus "Buzzin' here, buzzin' there" is easy to sing, and the "buzz buzz buzz" part is perfect for little voices.

Try this: Fly around the room like a bee and "land" on a pillow or a chair like it is a flower.

Bob the Little Cricket

Bob is a little cricket who is afraid to sing out loud. His penguin friends tell him, "Don't be scared, little cricket, we will love you the same." Bob takes a deep breath and starts to sing. After that, he is never afraid to share his song with his friends again.

Bob the Little Cricket and the Bug Band

Bob is tired of singing alone, so he jumps into the woods to find friends for a band. He finds a worm playing the xylophone, a bee playing the violin and an ant playing a funky drum. Then they hear maracas. A shy butterfly wants to join but thinks she is not good enough. The friends tell her that love and practice will make them a great band.

Try this: Give your toddler a pot and a spoon, or a plastic bottle with rice inside, and make your own bug band.

Bird and Dinosaur Songs

Little Bird's Tale

A little bird wants a friend who can fly with him. He asks a hedgehog, a mouse, a lizard, an ant, a squirrel, a mole, a gecko and a worm, but none of them have wings. Tired and sad, he flies back to the sky. There he meets a bird with rainbow colored feathers who wants to play and fly with him.

Try this: Count the animals the little bird asks. Can your toddler name each one?

Roar Like a Dinosaur

"You'll hear me roar, roar, roar, cause I'm a dinosaur!" This song lets kids pretend to be a pterodactyl flapping its wings, a stegosaurus eating plants and leaves, a brontosaurus with a long neck that shakes the ground, a triceratops with three horns and a T Rex, the king of all the dinos.

Try this: Stomp, flap and roar along with each dinosaur. It is a great way to get the wiggles out before nap time.

Sleepy Animal Lullabies

Hoot a Song Nightly Owl Lullaby

On a quiet, snowy night, Bebo the penguin rests in his cozy log cabin. He looks out the window at his owl friend sitting on a pine tree. The owl sings "hoo hoo" softly, and the song asks the owl to calm his mind so he can sleep all night.

Fly Little Butterfly Lullaby

A little penguin dreams of flying with a butterfly under a smiling moon and a starry sky. The gentle words tell your little one to close their eyes and that they are safe at home. It is a soft, slow song for the end of the day.

If your child loves animal songs, they will love our penguin songs for kids too. For more bedtime songs, see our lullaby lyrics to sing to your baby. You can also watch all of our animal songs and cartoons for toddlers in one place.

Easy Ways to Use Animal Songs at Home

• Make it a game. Say an animal name and let your toddler make the sound. Then switch, and let them pick an animal for you.
• Use toys and books. Hold up a toy or point to a picture when the animal comes up in the song.
• Move like the animals. Hop like a bunny, fly like a bee, stomp like a dinosaur and waddle like a penguin.
• Sing on the go. Sing the songs in the car, on a walk or at the zoo when you see real animals.
• Slow down at night. Save the owl and butterfly lullabies for bedtime, when your child needs to calm down.

Common Questions

What animals are in Old MacDonald Had a Farm?

In our version of Old MacDonald Had a Farm, the animals are a cow, a pig, a duck, a horse, a sheep, chickens, a dog and a goat.

What is a good animal song for a toddler who is just learning sounds?

Farm Animals is a great first song. Each animal is named clearly, and then the sound repeats many times, like "moo moo moo." That gives toddlers lots of chances to copy it. Another great example is Baby Shark, which repeats " doo doo doo doo doo doo." 

Are there animal songs for bedtime?

Yes. Hoot a Song Nightly Owl Lullaby and Fly Little Butterfly Lullaby are both slow, soft songs with animal friends. They work well as the last song before sleep.

Where can we watch these animal songs?

Every song above has a free cartoon video and full lyrics on its song page. You can also watch them on our Leigha Marina YouTube channel.