20 Counting Songs for Kids: Preschool and Kindergarten Levels
reviewed by Phoebe Belza-Barrientos
Updated on July 22, 2025
Counting songs for kids are catchy, fun, and entertaining. But beyond that, they serve a mission of building core math skills and making kids curious about it before they go to school.
Need some math entertainment for your kid? Choose one of the 20 best songs for counting (10 preschool and 10 kindergarten level).
Key points
- The key difference between preschool counting songs and counting songs for kindergarten is the complexity of numbers and the coordination skills required to perform them.
- Most songs in this list reinforce the same counting sequences but apply different images, methods, and number patterns
- If your kindergarten kid struggles with math, you can start with a counting song preschool or get them a private math tutor for early math skills development.
10 number songs for preschoolers
- Counting song “One, Two Buckle My Shoe”
- Counting song “1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Once I Caught a Fish Alive”
- Counting song “Five Little Ducks”
- Counting song “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed”
- Counting song “Five Little Speckled Frogs”
- Counting song “Ten in the Bed”
- Counting song “Zoom-Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon”
- Counting song “How Many Fingers?”
- Counting song “Ten Little Sailboats”
- Counting song “Seven Steps”
Counting song preschool #1: One, Two Buckle My Shoe
This classic melody is short, rhythmic, easy to remember, and one of the most common counting songs in American early education.
One, two buckle my shoe (pretend to tie shoe) Three, four – knock on the door (pretend to knock on the door) Five, six – pick up sticks (pretend to pick up sticks) Seven, eight – lay them straight (pretend to lay sticks down) Nine, ten – a big fat hen! |
Skills developed with such number songs for toddlers:
- Teach to count to ten
- Make counting fun with an engaging narrative
- Connect numbers and events that they can describe
Counting song preschool #2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Once I Caught a Fish Alive
This simple, rhythmic, and fun song tells kids to love animals.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Once, I caught a fish alive, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Then I let it go again. Why did you let it go? Because it bit my finger so Which finger did it bite? This little finger is on my right |
Areas counting songs for preschoolers improve:
- Rote counting
- Introduction to counting from a number
- Connecting finger movements with counting
Counting song preschool #3: Five Little Ducks
This classic song contains a short mother-children drama with a happy ending to entertain kids.
Five little ducks went out one day Over the hill and far away Mother Duck said, “Quack quack quack quack” And only four little ducks came back! 1, 2, 3, 4 Four little ducks went out one day Over the hill and far away Mother Duck said, “Quack quack quack quack.” And only three little ducks came back! 1, 2, 3 Three little ducks went out one day Over the hill and far away Mother Duck said, “Quack quack quack quack.” And only two little ducks came back! 1, 2 Two little ducks went out one day Over the hill and far away Mother Duck said, “Quack quack quack quack.” And only one little duck came back! 1 One little duck went out one day Over the hill and far away Mother Duck said, “Quack quack quack quack.” But none of the five little ducks came back! Sad Mother Duck went out one day Mother Duck said, “Quack quack quack quack.” Five little ducks went out one day Over the hill and far away Mother Duck said, “Quack quack quack quack” And all of the five little ducks came back! |
How such counting songs for toddlers work:
- Teach counting backwards
- Introduce kids to the concept of subtraction in an engaging way
- Entertain kids with fun stories that have a sad twist yet a happy ending!
Counting song preschool #4: Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
This lively song helps with counting and teaches a valuable lesson about the consequences of not following instructions.
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed One fell off and bumped his head Mama called the doctor, and the doctor said “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!” Four little monkeys jumping on the bed One fell off and bumped his head Mama called the doctor, and the doctor said “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!” Three little monkeys jumping on the bed One fell off and bumped his head Mama called the doctor, and the doctor said “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!” Two little monkeys jumping on the bed One fell off and bumped his head Mama called the doctor, and the doctor said “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!” One little monkey jumping on the bed She fell off and bumped his head Mama called the doctor, and the doctor said “Put those monkeys right to bed!” |
Preschool number songs: Skills developed
- Counting backwards from five to one
- Subtractive counting concept (“one less”)
- Safety basics
Counting song preschool #5: Five Little Speckled Frogs
This entertaining song helps count backward and introduces a playful element with the frogs’ actions.
Five little speckled frogs, Sat on a speckled log, Eating some of the most delicious bugs. Yum yum! One jumped into the pool, Where it was nice and cool, Now there are four green-speckled frogs. Glug glug! Four little speckled frogs, Sat on a speckled log, Eating some of the most delicious bugs. Yum yum! One jumped into the pool, Where it was nice and cool, Now there are three green-speckled frogs. Glug glug! Three little speckled frogs, Sat on a speckled log, Eating some of the most delicious bugs. Yum yum! One jumped into the pool, Where it was nice and cool, Now there are two green-speckled frogs. Glug glug! Two little speckled frogs, Sat on a speckled log, Eating some of the most delicious bugs. Yum yum! One jumped into the pool, Where it was nice and cool, Now there is one green-speckled frog. Glug glug! One little speckled frog, Sat on a speckled log, Eating some of the most delicious bugs. Yum yum! One jumped into the pool, Where it was nice and cool, Now there are no green-speckled frogs. Glug glug! |
Skills this counting preschool song develops:
- Counting backwards from five to one
- Basic subtraction (“one less” concept)
- Taking turns concept
Note: Songs about ducks, monkeys, and frogs are especially fun when used in group settings. ‘This Little Piggy’ song is also a great example in this regard.
Counting song preschool #6: Ten in the Bed
This delightful counting song helps children practice counting down from ten while enjoying a playful narrative.
There were ten in the bed And the little one said, “Roll over, roll over.” So they all rolled over, and one fell out There were nine in the bed And the little one said, “Roll over, roll over.” So they all rolled over, and one fell out There were eight in the bed And the little one said, “Roll over, roll over.” So they all rolled over, and one fell out There were seven in the bed And the little one said, “Roll over, roll over.” So they all rolled over, and one fell out There were six in the bed And the little one said, “Roll over, roll over.” So they all rolled over, and one fell out There were five in the bed And the little one said, “Roll over, roll over.” So they all rolled over, and one fell out There were four in the bed And the little one said, “Roll over, roll over.” So they all rolled over, and one fell out There were three in the bed And the little one said, “Roll over, roll over.” So they all rolled over, and one fell out There were two in the bed And the little one said, “Roll over, roll over.” So they all rolled over, and one fell out There was one in the bed And the little one said, “I’m lonely.” |
Skills developed with these toddler counting songs:
- Count backward from ten to one
- Subtraction as “one less” in the 1-10 context
- Sequencing basics
Note: Find ten toys to roll over from their bed one by one to make the role-play even more relatable to your kid!
Counting song preschool #7: Zoom-Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon
This simple, catchy number song teaches the countdown and is easy to modify. You can make it any longer — for example, extend verses to 20.
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom We’re going to the moon. Zoom, Zoom, Zoom We’re going to the moon. If you want to take a trip, Climb aboard my rocket ship. Zoom, Zoom, Zoom We’re going to the moon. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Blast off! |
How does this toddler counting song work?
- Count backward from ten to five and from five to one
- Connects numbers with science
- Promotes vocabulary development
Counting song preschool #8: How Many Fingers?
This song is also great for practicing counting to ten and making the first steps towards practicing counting to 20.
How many fingers on one hand? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 How many fingers on two hands? Clap, clap, clap your hands (clapping) How many toes on one foot? Let’s all count together. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 How many toes on two feet? Stomp, stomp, stomp your feet 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 |
How this preschool counting song works:
- Lets kids connect with their body while counting
- Shows fives in groups to reinforce 5+5=10 addition
- Makes numbers tangible
Note: You can try counting backwards and try different groupings with this song to strengthen their knowledge.
Counting song preschool #9: Ten Little Sailboats Song
This song is very simple but most effective once combined with a catchy melody.
One little, two little, three little sailboats Four little, five little, six little sailboats Seven little, eight little, nine little sailboats Ten little sailboats. Ten little, nine, eight little sailboats Seven little, six little, five little sailboats Four little, three little, two little sailboats One little sailboat |
Things these counting songs preschool improve:
- Counting forwards
- Counting backwards
- Checking how they count out of an engaging story context
Counting song preschool #10: Seven Steps
This song is another way to connect the body and counting.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven! (Make one step for each number) |
How this counting song for preschool works:
- Connects numbers up to seven with physical movement
- Establishes motor coordination
- Engages knowledge through repetition and pace
Note: Try walking in different directions with this song, and then change its melody to reinforce the knowledge gently.
10 counting songs for kindergarten
- Counting song “Fat Sausages: A Counting by Tens Song”
- Counting song “Jellyfish: A Count by 5 Song”
- Counting song “Banana Song”
- Counting song “The Ants Go Marching”
- Counting song “Let’s Count from 10 to 20″
- Counting song “Counting to 20”
- Counting song “20 Bubbles Pop Up”
- Counting song “Count to 20 and Work Out”
- Counting song “Numbers Song 1-50”
- Counting song “Let’s Get Fit: 1 to 100”
Counting song kindergarten #1: Fat Sausages: A Counting by Tens Song
This super catchy song is one of the favorites for kindergarten children, so we recommend trying it first.
Ten fat sausages sizzling in a pan (hold up ten fingers) All of a sudden, one went BANG! (Clap your hands with a loud bang!) Nine fat sausages sizzling in a pan, All of a sudden, one went BANG! Eight fat sausages sizzling in a pan All of a sudden, one went BANG! (Repeat the verse until no sausages are sizzling in a pan.) |
Nursery rhymes counting 1-10: Skills developed
- Count by ten backwards
- Skip counting on fingers
- Motor skills and imagery (when paired with making sounds or stomping)
Counting song kindergarten #2: Jellyfish: A Count by 5 Song
This song is especially fun when kids learn to predict the rhymes as they tuck their fingers once they hear “splash!”
Five jellyfish, five jellyfish (hold up five fingers) Five jellyfish are sitting on a rock. One jumped off! Splash! (tuck one finger down into a fist) Four jellyfish! One jumped off! Splash! (tuck one finger down into a fist) (continue till one jellyfish is left) All jumped up! Hooray! Hooray! No jellyfish, no jellyfish, No jellyfish sitting on a rock. |
What do these counting songs kindergarten improve?
- Counting backward on fingers
- Skip counting by 5s
- Strengthens recognition of patterns in numbers
Note: Supplement this song with the preschool song “How many fingers?” and “How to count by 4 song?” to strengthen the connection between fingers and numbers from 1 to 20.
Counting song kindergarten #3: Banana Song
This song is energetic and good to practice before lunch!
One banana, two bananas, 1, 2, 3 Four bananas, five bananas, 4, 5, 6 Six bananas for me 7, 8, 9. 10 Ten bananas for me! 11, 12, 13 14, 15, 16 Sixteen bananas for me 17, 18,19 Twenty bananas for me! Bananas to the left Bananas to the right Bananas turn around Bananas sit down Now peel your bananas and take a bite! |
How such rote counting songs work:
- Combine numbers and real-life objects
- Reinforce sequential counting
- Add humor and real-life relevance for more fun
Note: You can adapt this song to any counting range (just be ready to get more bananas!)
Counting song kindergarten #4: The Ants Go Marching
So many different events happen in this classic song, so your kid has no chance of getting bored!
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah The little one stops to suck his thumb And they all go marching down to the ground To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah The little one stops to tie his shoe And they all go marching down to the ground To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The ants go marching three by three, hurrah, hurrah The little one stops to climb a tree And they all go marching down to the ground To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The ants go marching four by four, hurrah, hurrah The little one stops to shut the door And they all go marching down to the ground To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The ants go marching five by five, hurrah, hurrah The little one stops to take a dive And they all go marching down to the ground To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The ants go marching six by six, hurrah, hurrah The little one stops to pick up sticks And they all go marching down to the ground To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The ants go marching seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah The little one stops to pray to heaven And they all go marching down to the ground To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The ants go marching eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah The little one stops to roller skate And they all go marching down to the ground To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The ants go marching nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah The little one stops to check the time And they all go marching down to the ground To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The ants go marching ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah The little one stops to shout “The End”, And they all go marching down to the ground To get out of the rain. |
How to practice this counting rhyme:
- Offer your kid the text first
- Show them an accompanying video for greater visualization
- Progress with this song rhyme by rhyme to train memory, listening, and language skills
Note: If you feel it’s easier for your kid to read or practice exercises for counting, get them one of these free counting worksheets with games and tables.
Counting song kindergarten #5: Let’s Count from 10 to 20
This song is concentrated on training the specific range between 10 and 20, which most kindergarten kids struggle with.
Let’s count from ten to twenty Now swing your arms, Shake your hips Stomp your feet, And clap with me! 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 |
Skills developed in these counting rhymes:
- Mastering tricky “teen” numbers
- Recognizing the appearance and vocabulary of numbers after 10
- Coordinating knowledge with motion
Counting song kindergarten #6: Counting to 20
This straightforward song is designed to connect the newly learned 10 to 20 sequence with the previously learned 1 to 10 one.
Count, count, count with me Count with me from 1 to 20 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, (Repeat two times, each time faster) |
Children’s counting songs: Skills developed
- Strengthen the 1 to 20 sequence
- Gain confidence and mastery at increasing speed
- Number identification speed
Note: If your kid starts experiencing problems while counting 1 to 10 at a higher speed, take some extra time to reinforce their knowledge with drills from these free printable counting worksheets 1-10.
Counting song kindergarten #7: 20 Bubbles Go Pop
This song is another interactive way to build strong 1 to 20 counting skills.
1, 2, 3 little bubbles 4, 5, 6, little bubbles 7, 8, 9 little bubbles 10 little bubbles go pop, pop, pop! Alright, now let’s pop those big bubbles! 11, 12, 13 big bubbles 17, 18, 19 big bubbles 20 bubbles go pop, pop, pop! |
Counting numbers 1 to 20 songs: How do they help?
- Connect number sequencing with nice images
- Reinforce one-to-one correspondence between each number and a bubble
- Promote movement while being fun to sing
Counting song kindergarten #8: Count to 20 and Work Out
This vivid song combines exercise with math, which can be more entertaining for some kids than watching bubbles pop.
Let’s dance, sing, and count! Twist your body side to side 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 Step out front and crisscross 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 Clap and stomp left to right 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 I love to count, I love to count |
Why are these counting songs for kindergarten better than the others?
- Include whole-body movement in the learning process
- Promotes a healthy lifestyle
- Suits the energy level of highly active kids
Counting song kindergarten #9: Numbers Song 1 to 50
This song is a good tool to check the 1 to 50 counting and find the gaps to work with.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 … 50 (Make random movements between the numbers to add the rhythm) |
How to use this counting song kindergarten?
- Start signing the sequence at any pace and melody
- Stop the song once a kid gets stuck
- Repeat that number several times and start over
Note: True automaticity is achieved once they can do this song with any movements and at any melody three times in a row.
Counting song kindergarten #10: Let’s Get Fit
This song is created by Jack Hartmann to introduce the kindergarten kids to the 50-100 sequence as a part of a dancing routine.
Count to 100 every day Stretch your arms: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Do arm circles: 31-40 Do windmills: 61-70 |
Counting numbers for kids. 1 to 100: Benefits
- Helps kids reach an important 100 milestones before first grade
- Includes physical activity for greater engagement
- Combining music and movement with counting makes the new thing feel easier
Kids counting songs: Conclusion
Whenever you go for a counting song for kids, you make their world more fun and help them develop basic math skills. The true value of these rhymes can be seen in the math class, once they feel how fun and enjoyable math can be!
With a counting song preschool, your kid can get a fun tool to connect each spoken word or object with its numbers, which will help them comprehend their sequence and meaning more easily. Getting a counting song kindergarten, in addition to developing relevant math skills for kindergarten, makes them ready to comprehend more complex math concepts in the future (like divisibility or addition rules).
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- Diagnostic tests to check if your kid’s math knowledge is relevant for their grade
- Worksheets with exercises designed to train a specific math topic
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