Circle Time and Clean Up Songs for Preschool, Daycare and Home

A preschool day has a lot of small changes. Kids come in the door, sit down for circle time, get up to move, clean up the toys and get ready to go outside. Each change is a chance for things to fall apart. A short song can make each change smooth and fun. Kids hear the music and they know what comes next.

Below is a full day of Leigha Marina songs for home, daycare and the preschool classroom. They are sorted by the time of day you might use them. Every song has a free cartoon video with Bebo and the penguin family, plus the full lyrics on its song page.

Morning: Getting Ready and Saying Hello

Wake Up It's Time For School

Some mornings, nobody wants to get out of bed. In this song, Daddy Penguin tries to wake up his sleepy babies. They beg for "just another little bit" of sleep. Daddy keeps singing, and slowly the little penguins get up and get excited for school. Parents will laugh because this is every morning at their house.

Best for: Home, before school. Play it right when the lights go on.

Get Ready For School

Bebo and Mommy Penguin go through the whole morning list. Stretch your arms. Brush your teeth. Put on your clothes. Eat your breakfast. Pack your bag and check it twice. Kids can do each step as they hear it, so the song works like a checklist they can sing.

Best for: Slow mornings. Let the song tell your child what to do next, so you don't have to say it ten times.

First Day Of School

New teacher, new room, new friends. That can feel scary for a little one. This song tells kids that being nervous is normal and that they are going to do great. "Just be yourself" is the big idea. Play it a few days before school starts so the words feel like a friend on day one.

Best for: The week before school, the first week of school, or when a new child joins the class.

Hello Song

This is a great song to open circle time. The penguins wave and spell out H E L L O. There is even a funny part where the singer says "Jello" by mistake. Kids love to shout that part. The song reminds them that a wave and a smile are an easy way to make a new friend.

Best for: The first song of circle time. Have each child wave to the friend next to them.

Circle Time: Days, Seasons and Weather

Days Of The Week

"It's Monday, mo mo mo Monday." The sound at the start of each day makes the names easy to remember. The song goes through all seven days in order, then does it again. Point to the calendar as you sing so kids can see the word and hear it at the same time.

Best for: Calendar time every morning.

Get Ready for the Weather

A polar bear in the sun needs sunglasses. A kangaroo in the rain needs a raincoat. A frog in the snow needs a warm sweater. Each time, the song asks "What does he need?" and gives a few wrong answers first. Kids love to yell "No!" before the right answer comes.

Best for: Weather time. After the song, look out the window and ask the class what they would wear today.

Seasons Of The Year

Leaves fall in autumn. We wear sweaters and sneeze in winter. Flowers bloom in spring. We eat ice cream in the summer sun. This song gives each season a picture that kids can hold onto. It's a nice one to bring back every time the season changes.

Best for: The first day of a new season, or any day you talk about the weather outside.

Wiggle Break: Songs to Get Up and Move

Little kids can only sit still for a short time. When they start to wiggle, give them a reason to. These songs let kids move and still practice listening.

The Freeze Dance Song

Dance, jump, wiggle, spin and then FREEZE. When the music says freeze, everyone has to stop like a statue. "It must be really cold inside, cause everybody is frozen now." This song gets out a lot of energy, and the freeze parts teach kids to stop their bodies when they hear a word.

Best for: After a long sit. It also works on rainy days when nobody can go outside.

Penguin Says

This is the classic Simon Says game, penguin style. Bebo wears a crown and plays the king of an ice castle. Touch your head. Shake your hands. March in place. But if he doesn't say "Penguin says," you have to stay still. Kids have to listen closely, so it is a fun way to get a busy room to pay attention.

Best for: When the room is loud and you need everyone's ears back.

Left And Right

Bebo wants to ride his bike, but he keeps mixing up left and right. His friends teach him a trick. Your left hand is on the same side as your heart. Then everyone raises the hand they hear, and then stomps the foot they hear. By the end, the whole class is moving together.

Best for: Lining up, or before a walk outside.

Clean Up Time

Clean Up Put Your Toys Away

This is the song to play when the toys are all over the floor. "Clean up, clean up, put your toys away. Clean up, clean up, so we can go out and play." The song tells kids why they are cleaning up. When the room is clean, it's time to go outside. That little reward makes a big difference.

Best for: The end of free play at home or in class. Try to be done before the song ends. Kids love to beat the music.

Tips for Using Songs in Your Day

• Use the same song for the same job. If Clean Up Put Your Toys Away always means clean up, kids will start cleaning as soon as they hear the first line.
• Give a warning first. Say "One more minute, then it's clean up song time." Kids handle changes better when they know what is coming.
• Sing along yourself. Kids copy grown ups. If you sing and move, they will too.
• Keep the screen small. You don't need to show the video every time. The music on a speaker works just as well once the kids know the song.

Want more songs for your class or your home? You can find every one of our nursery rhymes and kids songs, with videos and lyrics, on our music page. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Questions Teachers and Parents Ask

What is a transition song?

A transition song is a short song you play when it's time to switch from one thing to the next. It could be moving from play to clean up, or from circle time to snack. The song tells kids what is happening, so there is less fuss and less waiting around.

What is a good song to start circle time?

Hello Song is a great one to start with. It is short, it has a wave, and it gets every child to say hello. After that, sing Days Of The Week for calendar time and Get Ready for the Weather to talk about the day outside.

How do I get toddlers to clean up?

Turn it into a game with a song. Play Clean Up Put Your Toys Away and try to finish before it ends. Give each child one small job, like "put the blocks in the box." Then say what comes next, like going outside. Kids clean up faster when something fun is waiting.

Can I use these songs in my classroom or daycare?

Yes. All of our videos are free to watch on YouTube, and you can stream the music on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. The full lyrics are on each song page, so you can sing along with or without the video.

Pick one song for tomorrow morning and try it. By the end of the week, your little ones might be the ones asking for it.