Musical games in the early years are one of the most powerful tools in any practitioner's toolkit - giving children immediate, joyful feedback on rhythm, listening, and co-ordination without a worksheet in sight. Gamification has been called a transformative approach to learning because games are familiar and accessible. Results include increased student participation by 30%, increased recall 6 months later, and girls actually out-game boys! Competition, rewards and achievement have been shown to increase participation, collaboration and connection with the learning material, using points, badges, leaderboards and storytelling.
As music involves so many areas, gamification has a lot of potential for the early years. Rhythm and pitch games give immediate feedback on the beat or melody. Scales and notation games instantly show musical understanding: being in tune and beats in a bar. And unlike other subjects, the final result isn't just a high test score, but an experience that can be enjoyed over and over again.
Music education has historically incorporated all of these ideas right from the start. In fact, early years education has known from time immemorial that, as Mary Poppins sings in A Spoonful of Sugar:
"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun! You find the fun and snap! The job becomes a game!"
Why musical games work in early years settings
By playing different musical games, children must walk to the beat - or it spoils the game. Children must keep silent at certain parts - or it spoils the game. Children must move, speak, sing or tap at the right time - or it spoils the game. And this instant feedback is exactly the gamification that other subjects and education areas are only just discovering.
From developing proprioception skills to spatial awareness to co-ordination, automation, as well as rhythm and melody, musical games take learning to a level of gamification that online activities have yet to match. In fact, many schools have found that scheduling physical and movement activities before cognitively demanding subjects (maths, science, and so on) powerfully improves results. Try planning active music just before numeracy sessions and see what difference it makes!
Online musical games for the early years
Examples of online musical games for the early years include activities that create music by layering sounds and switching them on and off, clapping along to the beat, and mixing various sounds to create new musical pieces. This makes them interactive and develops essential skills through engaging play.
- BBC Bring The Noise: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/bring-the-noise
- PBS Kids Music Games: https://pbskids.org/games/music
- Classics for Kids Games: https://www.classicsforkids.com/music-games/
- Music Memory Games: https://www.proprofsgames.com/music-memory/
- Inside The Orchestra Musical Games: https://insidetheorchestra.org/musical-games/
- AGame Music Games: https://www.agame.com/games/music
- Ducksters Music Matching Game: https://www.ducksters.com/games/music_matching_game.php
- Quia Orchestra Instrument Family: https://www.quia.com/quiz/334720.html
- Theremin: https://femurdesign.com/theremin/
- Peg + Cat Music Maker: https://pbskids.org/games/play/music-maker/20848
- Incredibox: https://www.incredibox.com
- Cyber Pattern Player: https://pbskids.org/games/play/cyber-pattern-player/18932
- Quia - Music Mania: https://www.quia.com/rr/4048.html
Real-life musical singing games to try in your setting
If you fancy some real-life interactive singing, here are some fun suggestions to use with your group.
Rabbit Run on the Frozen Ground
Rabbit run on the frozen ground! Who told you so?
Rabbit run on the frozen ground! How do you know?
I caught a rabbit, uh-huh!
I caught a rabbit, uh-huh!
I caught a rabbit, uh-huh!
Then I let it go!
Foxy run on the frozen ground! Who told you so?
Foxy run on the frozen ground! How do you know?
I caught a fox, uh-huh!
I caught a fox, uh-huh!
I caught a fox, uh-huh!
Then I let it go!
Bear run on the frozen ground! Who told you so?
Bear run on the frozen ground! How do you know?
I caught a bear, uh-huh!
I caught a bear, uh-huh!
I caught a bear, uh-huh!
Then I let it go!
This lovely little song comes from Kentucky, America, and is known as a "call-and-response" song. This shows quite quickly which skills need developing or understanding - shown by children singing out of beat, out of tune, or singing the wrong part. This could be used with pre-walkers by bouncing a toy rabbit to the beat. Toddlers could hop around like rabbits, practising jumping and landing with both feet together. Older children could sing along by first singing the bold parts of the song, then swapping to only singing the other part.
This also reinforces the way we naturally learn songs - from the end to the beginning. This is because the end of the song or the end of the line is the last part we hear, so it is also the last part we remember. So much fun!
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Gently down the stream.
Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
If you see a crocodile,
Don't forget to scream.
This is a classic that needs little to no introduction. Starting by sitting in a conga line together, rocking side to side reinforces the constant beat and pulse. Develop this into sitting in pairs opposite each other, feet to feet, holding hands, and rocking side to side with one other person. And then finally, sit independently, rocking side to side while sitting in a circle - and not forgetting to scream!
Pretty Little Susie
Where, oh where, is pretty little Susie?
Where, oh where, is pretty little Susie?
Where, oh where, where is pretty little Susie?
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.
Picking up paw-paws; put 'em in a basket.
Picking up paw-paws; put 'em in a basket.
Picking up paw-paws; put 'em in a basket.
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.
Come along, friends, and let's go find her.
Come along, friends, and let's go find her.
Come along, friends, and let's go find her.
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch
This lovely little song can be used as a group activity and can even develop into a line dance! With little ones, it's a great peek-a-boo game that you can play with transparent or play scarves. As they get older and start walking, they can either stand in a circle and hide behind their hands for the first verse, and all act out the actions of the chorus and subsequent verses before returning to the circle for each chorus - pretending to pick up "paw-paws" (also called papayas). Older preschool children can develop this into a line dance by standing opposite each other, with the "lead couple" performing the actions of one verse as they walk down the centre to the end.
Bring learning to life through play. Play-based, creative learning sits at the heart of the EYFS, and skilled practitioners know how to use it well. Start your journey with the Level 2 Childcare course or explore all our courses. Prefer to chat? Call 0800 002 9242.
A question for our readers: Which musical game or singing activity gets the biggest response from the children in your setting? Share your favourite below so we can build a list every practitioner can dip into.
References
- Argyrakou, C., Milakis, E., Lalou, A. (2023) Rhythms of Play: Advancing Music Education through Gamification in Primary Schools. Neos Pedagogos Online.
- Qudsi, H. (2024) Gamification in Education: Student Engagement and Learning Outcomes. Journal of Visual and Performing Arts.
- Jacob (2026) 15 Powerful Gamification in Education Examples to Inspire You (2026). Gamification Hub.
Discover more: About Frances Turnbull
Other Articles:
Tech in the Early Years: Neurofeedback‑Enhanced Music
Language and Music: ESOL for the Early Years
Musical Drawing In The Early Years | Parenta.com
Fun Music Sessions For Pre-Schoolers! | Parenta.com
Toddler Music Sessions: Part 2 | Parenta.com
The Power of Music to Boost Brain Development in Early Childhood
Looking for more early years activity ideas?
Our childcare training courses are packed with practical ideas and resources to help you bring music, play and creativity into your everyday practice. Find out more about how Parenta supports early years professionals at every stage of their career.
