Songwriting Advice
How To Write Songs For Kids
You want a song that a three year old will demand six times in one car ride. You want parents to sing along in public without shame. You want teachers to use your track in circle time and for kids to learn something while their bodies are busy dancing. This guide gives you the tools, language, and micro exercises to write songs children remember, teachers reuse, and streaming editors place on playlists.
Quick Interruption: Ever wondered how huge artists end up fighting for their own songs? The answer is in the fine print. Learn the lines that protect you. Own your masters. Keep royalties. Keep playing shows without moving back in with Mom. Find out more →
Quick Interruption: Ever wondered how huge artists end up fighting for their own songs? The answer is in the fine print. Learn the lines that protect you. Own your masters. Keep royalties. Keep playing shows without moving back in with Mom. Find out more →
Quick Links to Useful Sections
- Who Are You Writing For
- Core Principles For Writing A Great Kids Song
- Decide The Song Purpose
- Song Length And Structure Guidelines
- Structure A: Intro → Chorus → Verse → Chorus → Movement Bridge → Chorus
- Structure B: Intro → Verse → Chorus → Verse → Chorus → Soft Outro
- Structure C: Chant → Verse → Call Response → Chant
- Writing Lyrics Kids Can Repeat
- Choose Age Appropriate Vocabulary
- Repetition Rules
- Rhyme And Rhythm
- Melody That Sticks
- Melody Writing Exercise
- Beat, Tempo, And Movement
- Harmonies And Chord Choices
- Textures, Sounds, And Production Choices
- Characters, Stories, And Humor
- Interactive Elements That Work
- Lyric Templates You Can Steal
- Template 1: Rhyme and Action Chorus
- Template 2: Counting Verse
- Template 3: Bedtime Lullaby
- Prosody Examples And Fixes
- Writing Exercises For Kids Songs
- Exercise 1: The Object Chain
- Exercise 2: Melody On Vowels
- Exercise 3: The Movement Map
- Recording And Demo Tips
- Working With Kids And Parents
- Copyright, Publishing, And Sync Licensing Explained
- Pitching Songs To Educators, Apps, And TV
- Common Mistakes And How To Fix Them
- Examples You Can Model
- Toddler Dance Song
- Preschool Counting
- Bedtime Lullaby
- Actionable Workflow To Write A Kids Song Today
- Marketing And Monetization Pointers
- FAQs
This is written for artists who want to write for kids without sounding like a stuck record of cutesy clichés. Expect practical templates, lyrical prompts, melody methods, performance hacks, and real world advice about pitching, copyrights, and working with kids and parents. We will explain industry terms as we use them so you never have to guess what sync means. You will leave with a concrete workflow and multiple song starters you can use today.
Who Are You Writing For
Kids is not one audience. Think of it as a set of overlapping age lanes. If you try to please every lane at once, your song will please no one. Choose your lane before you touch a piano.
- Toddler lane 0 to 3 years. Short attention spans and big sensory needs. Songs should be under two minutes. Repetition and clear vocal cues matter most.
- Preschool lane 3 to 5 years. Language grows fast. Songs can introduce basic concepts like colors, numbers, and routines. Movement cues are golden.
- Early elementary lane 6 to 8 years. Kids can follow stories and laugh at small jokes. Songs can be longer and include call and response sections.
- Upper elementary lane 9 to 12 years. They appreciate modest irony, stronger melodies, and themes of friendship, adventure, or confidence.
- Parental audience Parents and teachers are the gatekeepers. If adults find a song tolerable and useful, it gets replayed. Make sure the track does not annoy caregivers after three spins.
Pick one primary lane. You can have secondary lanes as long as you keep the core promise clear. Example scenario: You write for preschoolers but make the chord progression and second voice interesting enough that a parent singing along feels entertained.
Core Principles For Writing A Great Kids Song
- Simplicity Keep sentences short and single idea lines. Children process less information at once.
- Repetition Repeating hooks and phrases builds memory and participation without effort.
- Action Use verbs that invite movement. Songs that make kids clap, jump, or wiggle win circle time.
- Clear prosody Prosody means how words fit rhythm. Make stressed syllables land on strong beats so kids can sing without a grammar degree.
- Concrete images Use sensory details and objects kids recognize. Avoid abstract feelings unless you explain them with a picture.
- Short runtime Keep songs under three minutes unless you add interactive change every 30 seconds.
- Repeatable hook Make the chorus or chant easy to mimic after one hearing.
Decide The Song Purpose
Every kids song has a job. That job changes the structure and lyric choices.
- Educational Teach numbers, letters, routines, or social skills.
- Entertainment Pure play. Silly characters and nonsense words are allowed and encouraged.
- Movement Exercise songs and dance songs. Counting and instructions often live here.
- Bedtime Calm, slow tempo, reassuring lyrics and soft textures.
- Behavioral Songs that structure classroom transitions for teachers.
Pick one primary job. If your song tries to teach too much it becomes a classroom lecture. If it only entertains it may not get playlisted on preschool learning apps.
Song Length And Structure Guidelines
Attention is a currency. Spend it wisely.
- Toddler songs: 45 seconds to 1 minute. One chorus, maybe one repeated verse. Keep it tiny.
- Preschool songs: 1 to 2 minutes. Verse chorus structure works well. Add a movement section or chant.
- Early elementary: 2 to 3 minutes. You can tell a short story or use a call and response bridge.
- Upper elementary: 2.5 to 3.5 minutes. Traditional pop forms work if the language is age appropriate.
Recommended structures
Structure A: Intro → Chorus → Verse → Chorus → Movement Bridge → Chorus
Use this for movement songs where you want kids to join in early. The chorus acts like a game rule.
Structure B: Intro → Verse → Chorus → Verse → Chorus → Soft Outro
Great for educational songs that need a little story before the hook arrives.
Structure C: Chant → Verse → Call Response → Chant
Use for toddlers and preschoolers. The chant is super repeatable and can reopen engagement between verses.
Writing Lyrics Kids Can Repeat
Every line must survive being shouted from the back of a bus. Keep syllable counts steady and words familiar.
Choose Age Appropriate Vocabulary
- Toddlers: single words and short phrases. Use concrete nouns like ball, bed, moon, spoon.
- Preschoolers: short sentences and action verbs. Introduce one new word per song if needed.
- Early elementary: playful metaphors and simple compound ideas. They enjoy small twists.
- Upper elementary: you can use more complex words but still explain them with an image or action.
Real life scenario: You are in a grocery store and a parent asks what your song about cleaning hands teaches. You must explain in one sentence using plain language. If you cannot, the song is probably too complicated.
Repetition Rules
- Repeat the chorus three times or less in a two minute song to avoid boredom.
- Repeat a two or three word phrase within the chorus as an earworm. Example: Wash your hands, wash wash clean.
- Use predictable rhyme patterns so kids can anticipate the end of the line. Predictability is confidence building for singers.
Rhyme And Rhythm
Rhyme helps memory, but forced rhyme hurts flow. Use simple rhyme schemes like A A B A or A B A B. Internal rhyme and repeated consonants delight small ears.
Prosody check example: Say your line out loud at conversation speed. Mark the natural stresses. Count beats and make sure stressed words land on strong beats. If not, change the words or move the stresses. Kids feel alignment even if they do not know the term prosody.
Melody That Sticks
Kids love melodies that are singable and predictable with one surprising turn. Keep range small for little voices. Sing in a comfortable tessitura so both children and adults can sing without strain.
- Range: Keep the main melody within an octave. Toddlers need even narrower ranges.
- Interval choices: Steps and small leaps work best. A single large leap can be fun if it is repeated as a motif.
- Melodic anchor: Use a short repeating motif that signals the chorus. A three note hook can be enough.
Melody Writing Exercise
- Pick two chords. Play them for two minutes as a loop.
- Sing nonsense syllables to find a motif. Record five variations.
- Choose the most singable motif and assign a short phrase. Repeat that phrase three times in the chorus with one small variation.
Real life example: You have a phrase Like the sun on my face. Try setting it to a repeating three note motif like do do da. Repeat it three times with different final words like face, place, grace. Kids will anticipate the pattern and love the slight change.
Beat, Tempo, And Movement
Movement is the secret spice. If your song invites bodies to move, it becomes a memory machine.
- Tempo: 80 to 110 BPM is good for marching or simple movement. 120 to 140 BPM works for dancing and skipping.
- Beat clarity: Keep drums or percussion simple and on the grid so kids can stomp or clap along.
- Instruction pacing: For call and response, give one measure for the call and one for the response. Kids need time to process and perform.
Performance tip: During recordings keep the band loose but tight on the pocket. Too much subdivision confuses small dancers. Give each movement cue two measures to register.
Harmonies And Chord Choices
Kids do not need complex harmony. A small palette is best. Use major keys for happy moods and minor modes for spooky or sleepy songs depending on the theme.
- Three chord songs work well. I IV V or I V vi IV are friendly and familiar progressions.
- Borrow one chord for color. A IV minor instead of IV major can create a wistful second verse that still resolves simply.
- Bass motion: Keep the bass simple. Root notes and stepwise motion are easy to follow.
Example chord map for a preschool song in C major
- Verse: C G Am G
- Chorus: F C G C
- Bridge: Am G F G
Textures, Sounds, And Production Choices
Production can make or break replay value. Think about textures that kids love and adults tolerate. Toys, hand percussion, ukulele, soft synth pads, and bright brass stabs all work when used sparingly.
- Signature sound: Pick one quirky sound that becomes your character. It could be a slide whistle or a toy piano. Use it consistently so listeners associate it with your brand.
- Space: Leave gaps for kids to shout or respond. Silence can be a tool for engagement.
- Voices: Record lead with clear enunciation. Double the chorus to add energy. Harmonies are optional but add warmth for adult ears.
Real life tip: Parents will play music in cars. Heavy bass that rattles coffee cups will annoy them. Keep low end present but controlled.
Characters, Stories, And Humor
Kids love characters and silly situations. Make your protagonist vivid. A washing machine that sings, a dancing banana, or a brave bug are all valid leads. Humor should be concrete and physical. Long verbal jokes do not land with preschool ears.
Story tips
- Keep stakes small but clear: find a hat, get to school, save a spoon.
- Repeat a motif or phrase that signals the character. It becomes a catchphrase.
- Use predictable reversals. If a character always goes left and then suddenly goes right, kids laugh because pattern expectations are violated in an obvious way.
Interactive Elements That Work
When children can participate, they feel ownership. Use call and response, fill in the blank lines, movement cues, and onomatopoeia.
- Call and response: Lead says a line and kids respond with a short phrase or sound.
- Call to action: Ask kids to stomp three times, then whisper. Contrast is fun.
- Fill in the blank: Sing up to the last word and leave a pause. Kids supply the final word. This builds prediction and memory.
Lyric Templates You Can Steal
Template 1: Rhyme and Action Chorus
Chorus lines are short and repeatable
Clap your hands, clap clap clap
Stomp your feet, stomp stomp stomp
Turn around, spin and stop
Clap your hands clap clap clap
Template 2: Counting Verse
Verse uses numbers with visual objects
One red apple on the tree
Two blue birds sing to me
Three small steps to the door
Four big jumps then count some more
Template 3: Bedtime Lullaby
Gentle rhyme and repeated reassurance
Moon on the window, soft and slow
Close your eyes now let dreams grow
Stars are guarding you tonight
Breath in calm and breathe out light
Prosody Examples And Fixes
Bad prosody example
Let us anthropomorphize the balloon mid flight
This sounds stilted and adult. It will trip small mouths.
Better prosody
The balloon says hello then floats away
Natural speech matches the rhythm and the stress lands on strong beats. Kids can say it.
Quick prosody test
- Speak the line at normal talking speed.
- Tap a steady beat. Hand clap on beats one and three.
- Does the strong word fall on the clap? If not, move the word or change the rhythm.
Writing Exercises For Kids Songs
Exercise 1: The Object Chain
- Pick three objects within arm reach.
- Write one line for each object that includes an action and a sound.
- Connect the lines with a repeating chorus that uses one of the object names.
Exercise 2: Melody On Vowels
- Play a two chord loop.
- Sing ah ah oh on different pitches until a small phrase repeats in your head.
- Turn that phrase into a two or three word chorus phrase.
Exercise 3: The Movement Map
- Decide three movements kids will do.
- Write one action line per movement with a matching beat.
- Build your chorus to announce the movement and count it if useful.
Recording And Demo Tips
Record simple demos so teachers and licensing people can imagine use cases. Clean vocal takes and a clear arrangement matter more than glossy production in early stages.
- Lead vocal clarity: Use a close mic sound and enunciate. Kids sing what they hear.
- Keep reference tracks: Make a play along version without lead vocals for use in classrooms or performances.
- Stems: If pitching to publishers or TV, provide stems like vocal, drums, and music so mixers can edit for timing.
Working With Kids And Parents
If you record children, follow best practices and know your local laws. Get signed release forms from guardians. Respect limits on session length. Kids tire fast and lose focus. Plan short, playful recording blocks and have plenty of snacks and breaks.
Real world tip: Parents judge professionalism. Show up with a clear plan, paper copies of the song, a simple backing track on a tablet, and a calm demeanor. Make parents feel included and they will be your best promoters.
Copyright, Publishing, And Sync Licensing Explained
When money enters the room, terms will appear. Here are brief plain language definitions you can use at a dinner party.
- Copyright Your song is automatically yours once fixed in a tangible form. Still register with your local copyright office for stronger legal protection.
- Publishing The publishing rights cover the song itself. If you want someone to pitch your songs to shows or apps, you may work with a publisher.
- Sync Sync means synchronization license. It is when your music is used with visual media like TV shows or apps. Sync deals can pay well for kids songs because educational publishers and kids networks need clean usable tracks.
- PROs Performance Rights Organizations like BMI or ASCAP collect public performance royalties for you. They track when your songs play on radio, TV, streaming services and collect money for the use. Submit your songs to one of them as a songwriter.
Example scenario: A TV show for preschoolers wants your song in an episode. They will ask for sync rights. If you control the publishing, you can negotiate directly or go through a publisher for help. The show will also report plays to PROs so you get performance royalties. If you have a publisher, they will split some of that money with you in exchange for pitching and negotiation help.
Pitching Songs To Educators, Apps, And TV
Pitch for usefulness, not artistry. Give buyers practical reasons your track belongs in their library.
- Include teaching notes. Explain the learning objective in one sentence. Example: This song reinforces counting to five through movement.
- Provide a performance guide with cues for teachers and a play along track.
- Offer multiple versions. A full produced version and an instrumental play along increase your chance of placement.
- Keep metadata clean. Song titles should be plain and searchable. Avoid poetic titles that do not include keywords like counting, ABC, or bedtime.
Common Mistakes And How To Fix Them
- Over explaining Simplify lines that teach. One idea per sentence is a good rule.
- Too long Trim to the point where the chorus arrives within 30 to 45 seconds for preschool songs.
- Adult jokes If a joke needs an adult to explain it, cut it. Humor should land on immediate recognition.
- Harsh production Soothing or bright tones work better than aggressive compression and distorted drums in educational contexts.
Examples You Can Model
Toddler Dance Song
Verse: Little feet go tap tap tap. Little hands go clap clap clap.
Chorus: Tap clap stomp and spin. Tap clap stomp and spin. One two three now begin.
Preschool Counting
Verse: One little frog on the log, two little frogs jump in the fog.
Chorus: Count with me, one two three. Four five six, clap your knees.
Bedtime Lullaby
Verse: Soft blanket, moonbeam glow. Close your eyes and let dreams grow.
Chorus: Hush now child, breathe in slow. Stars are near, safe we know.
Actionable Workflow To Write A Kids Song Today
- Choose the lane and the job. Example: preschool movement song about washing hands.
- Write a one line core promise. Example: This song teaches kids the steps to wash hands while making it fun.
- Pick structure A or B depending on movement needs. Map sections on a single page with time targets.
- Make a two chord loop. Sing nonsense syllables until a motif appears. Record for two minutes.
- Turn the motif into a two or three word chorus. Repeat it three times with one small change on the last repeat.
- Draft two short verses with clear action verbs and concrete objects. Keep each line under eight syllables where possible.
- Run the prosody test and then the parent test. Say the song aloud and ask a random adult in your life if they would tolerate it in a car for three repeats.
- Record a clean demo and make a play along version with no lead vocal for classroom use.
Marketing And Monetization Pointers
Kids music has many revenue channels. Think beyond streaming. Licensing, educational platforms, sync placements, live performances for children, and merchandise can all play a part.
- Licensing Pitch to shows, apps, and publishers that specialize in children content.
- Sync Target kids networks, YouTube kids shows, and online learning platforms for sync placements.
- Live shows Invest in a short interactive set that invites kids to move. Parents will pay for joyful outings.
- Merch and experiences A simple hand puppet or downloadable activity book tied to a song can increase your revenue per fan.
FAQs
How long should a kids song be
Most toddlers need 30 to 60 seconds. Preschool songs can be one to two minutes. Older kids accept longer songs up to three minutes. Always prioritize engagement. If the song loses participation, shorten it.
Do kids songs need to rhyme
Rhyme helps memory but is not mandatory. Repetition and strong melodic hooks matter more. If you use rhyme, keep it natural. Forced rhyme confuses singers and listeners.
What instruments work best
Ukulele, acoustic guitar, piano, light percussion, hand claps, xylophone, and toy instrument textures are reliable. Use a single signature sound to create branding. Avoid heavy processed synths that may bleed on live PA systems.
How do I make educational songs that do not sound preachy
Focus on a single learning objective and embed it in action and story. Use play as the vehicle for learning. Make the chorus a repeated practice of the skill rather than a lecture.
Can adult pop songwriters write for kids
Yes. Your melodic instincts are valuable. You only need to adjust language, simplify structure, and spend time with real kids or educators to test your ideas. Observe how kids respond rather than relying on assumptions.
