Learning Songs for Toddlers: ABCs, Numbers, Colors, Shapes and More

Toddlers learn best when they are having fun. A song about colors, shapes or the ABCs turns a lesson into a game, and the tune helps the words stay in your child's head. Before long, your little one is singing the alphabet in the bath or pointing out circles and squares at the store.

Below are 11 learning songs for toddlers from Leigha Marina. They cover the ABCs, numbers, colors, shapes, opposites, left and right, the days of the week and even different food flavors. Each song has a free cartoon video and full lyrics on its song page, and you can find every album in our learning songs and educational cartoons for toddlers collection.

ABC and Number Songs

ABC Song

The little penguins sing the whole alphabet from A to Z in a snowy village, and each letter appears carved out of ice. The song goes through the letters a few times in different rhythms, so kids hear them again and again. At the end, it reminds kids that "ABC's are fun to sing."

Try this: Point to the letters in your child's name while you sing, and cheer when you get to their first letter.

Counting Numbers One to Ten

Each number in this song has its own little picture. Three is hiding under the tree, four is flying out the door, eight is "two circles joined together" and nine turned upside down looks like a six. These fun lines help kids remember what each number looks like, not just how it sounds.

For more number songs, see our full list of counting songs for preschoolers.

Color Songs

Paint the Rainbow

"If you want to paint a rainbow, these are the colors you need." The song matches each color with things kids know: red like strawberries, orange like a peach, yellow like the sun, green like frogs, blue like jeans and purple like juice. When you put them all together, you get a rainbow.

Color Learning: Red Is a Cherry

"Red is a cherry, red is a rose, red is an apple and Rudolph's nose." This short song teaches red, blue, green and yellow with the ocean, the sky, a frog, the grass, the stars and the sun. The penguins even ask each other, "What's your favorite color?"

Try this: After the song, ask your child their favorite color, then look for three things in the room that are that color.

Song About Colors: The Bow I Have Is Red

A little penguin goes outside with her red bow and orange hat. She sees the blue sky, green leaves, the yellow sun and the brown ground. Then she picks between pink and purple candy. "There are so many colors, oh so many pretty colors, and I want to learn them all."

Shapes, Opposites and Directions

Song About Shapes

Circle, square, triangle, rectangle, diamond, star and heart. This song names each shape and then shows where you can find it: the moon is a circle, a window is a square, a mountain is a triangle, a table is a rectangle and a kite is a diamond. At the end, "you are in my heart."

Try this: Go on a shape hunt around the house. A plate is a circle, a door is a rectangle and a slice of pizza is a triangle.

The Opposites Song

"What do we call it when two things are very different from each other? Opposites!" The penguins sing open and shut, big and small, fast and slow, up and down, hot and cold, heavy and light and happy and sad. The song is upbeat and easy to act out.

Left and Right

Bebo loves to ride his bike, but turning is hard when he doesn't know his left from his right. His friends teach him a trick: right is the hand you give a thumbs up with, and left is where your heart is. Then everyone practices with their hands, their feet and by jumping to each side.

Try this: Play along with the song and raise the hand the penguins call out. It is a great way to get the wiggles out while learning.

Days, Taste and More

Days of the Week

"It's Monday, mo mo mo Monday!" This catchy song goes through all seven days in order, with a fun sound for each one. By the end, the penguins sing "now we know how to sing" the days of the week.

Tasty Flavors

The little penguins try new foods and learn how they taste. The taco is spicy, the ice cream is sweet, the pizza is salty and the lemonade is sour. The song teaches kids that different foods have different flavors and that it's fun to try new things.

ABC Dream With Me Lullaby

Learning can end the day too. In this soft bedtime lullaby, a little penguin floats through a sky full of twinkling stars and marshmallow clouds while mommy sings "A B C, one, two, three, dream with me." It is a gentle way to review letters and numbers right before sleep.

For more songs to use in a group, see our circle time and clean up songs.

Tips for Learning With Songs

• Repeat the same song. Toddlers love to hear a song many times, and each time they learn a little more.
• Add movement. Point, clap, jump or raise your hands with the words. Moving helps kids remember.
• Connect it to real life. After a color or shape song, look for those colors and shapes around you.
• Keep it short. One or two songs at a time is enough for most toddlers.
• Don't worry about mistakes. If your child mixes up a letter or a color, just sing it again together.

Common Questions

What songs help toddlers learn colors?

Paint the Rainbow, Color Learning: Red Is a Cherry and Song About Colors: The Bow I Have Is Red all teach colors by matching them with things kids see every day.

Is there a song to teach toddlers left and right?

Yes. In Left and Right, Bebo learns that right is the thumbs up hand and left is where your heart is. Then kids practice with their hands and feet.

What is a good song for learning shapes?

Song About Shapes teaches the circle, square, triangle, rectangle, diamond, star and heart, and shows where to find each one.

Where can we watch these learning songs?

Every song above has a free cartoon video and full lyrics on its song page.