Hello Songs!

In my practice I have always begun my sessions with a hello song. This gets the attention of the individual I'm working with and provides structure - which is comforting to many of my kiddos. I'm sure this is true in preschool and kindergarten classes too - and it's a great way for children to transition into a "listening and learning mode"! Hello and other songs can also be used at home to get the attention of active and/or noisy little ones. Instead of calling their name, try singing softly and see if suddenly their attention is focused on you!

There are three songs I commonly use depending on who I am working with. The first is quite easy with very few words. After singing to my client, I then encourage them to sing it back to me. Many times I will sing with them, omitting the space for my name and encouraging the vocalization of my name.

The second hello is wordier and is quite appropriate in the classoom setting.

The third hello is a rap that I came up with for one of my pre-teen clients. His favorite type of music is rap and we play the bongo as we "rap" hello to help us stay on the beat.

Hello (to the tune of Goodnight Ladies)

Hello Suzie, Hello Suzie
Hello Suzie, How are you today?


This is the Way We Start the Day!
(to the tune of Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we start the day
Start the day, start the day,
This is the way we start the day,
So early in the morning.

First we smile and shake a hand,
Shake a hand, shake a hand,
First we smile and shake a hand,
So early in the morning.
Then we sit down quietly,
Quietly, quietly,
Then we sit down quietly,
So early in the morning.
We listen very carefully,
Carefully, carefully,
We listen very carefully,
So early in the morning.


Hello Rap
My name is Anthony and I'm hear to say,
It's time for music and I like to play!
Today is Wednesday in the afternoon,
I'm feeling ________, how 'bout you?