Image: iStock
Goodbyes are always emotional, whether a farewell, bidding adieu to a lost pet, the end of a school day, or wishing someone a see-off. When we struggle to find the right words, music or farewell tunes rescue us. Goodbye songs for preschoolers and toddlers fall into the category of music that has a calming effect on the minds of young children. Music, especially in educational settings, has been observed to positively impact emotional development among 3-12-year-olds. It helps develop emotional intelligence, perception, regulation, and expression. Music can also help boost kids’ sympathy, empathy, and other such prosocial skills, reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, and calm defiant behavior (1). We have compiled a list of popular goodbye songs for children. So, if you are hunting for some of the best goodbye songs for preschoolers, your search ends here.
15+ Goodbye Songs For Preschoolers
Jaime, a librarian, shares a few library projects involving goodbye songs she has enjoyed over the years. She calls it Preschool Story Time. Each story time usually has an opening song, then the story time and a goodbye song. She says, “We ended story time with our goodbye song, which is always the same each week. We always sang The More We Get Together from the Baby Love Song Time CD. The response varied from week to week (i).” Isn’t it an innovative way to introduce goodbye songs to kids?
If you’re also inspired to teach goodbye songs to your little ones, you may explore this curated list of goodbye songs for preschoolers and introduce your favorite ones to them. Here we go!
Ready to explore this curated list of goodbye songs for preschoolers? Here we go!
1. Goodbye, See You Soon, by Super Simple Songs
This is a simple song about wishing someone a goodbye. The lyrics are easy to follow, and the song has a catchy and kiddie tune, making it a children’s favorite.
Listen to it here:www.youtube.com
Quick Fact2. So Long Everybody: A Goodbye Song For Kids by Will Parker
by Will Parker
A sweet and short song about bidding farewell, which includes a variety of animals. This song can also prompt kids to learn the names of animals through its attention-catching images and funky tune.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
3. Goodbye To You! by ELF Learning
This song is so catchy that it gets difficult to get it out of the head, even for an adult. Preschoolers will love singing it as the song has a fun kiddie rhythm to it.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
4. See You Later, Alligator by Jack Hartmann
Here’s a fun and simple tot song that can be easily sung by preschoolers. Due to its simple lyrics, the preschoolers can repeat it and, in the process, learn various ways to say goodbye.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
5. It Is Time To Say Goodbye by Dr. Jean
Dr. Jean is very popular among preschoolers as his songs fit their imagination perfectly. Ideal for day end at school, this song is a hit amongst preschoolers.
Listen to it here:www.youtube.com
Things to know6. Day O’ Time To Go Home by The Learning Station
by The Learning Station
Day O’ Time To Go Home is a remake of the classic Day-O by Harry Belafonte, adapted for little ones to recap the day and end it on a happy note. Just like the classic, the adaptation too is catchy, making it easier to remember.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
7. Goodbye Song by The Singing Walrus
Towards the end of the day the little ones may be tired and don’t want to do anything. Thus, you could use this song to end the day in a mellow manner. Due to its interactive and simple lyrics, the little ones could also sing and dance along.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
8. The Goodbye Song by The Learning Station
This is a popular tune from Don and the gang and has a peppy beat making it a favorite of kids of all ages.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
9. Goodbye, Goodbye, by Music With Nancy
This song is another famous hit among toddlers. The track has been sung by Ms. Nancy, and her voice is undeniably soothing and comforting for a preschool goodbye song.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
10. Goodbye School Song by Dream English
This is an action song that involves a lot of movement and dancing. It is helpful to learn to spell and improve vocabulary.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
11. Skinnamarink by Sharon Lois And Bram
This is the simplest song to pick up for a toddler. The song is about letting the toddlers know that they are loved and appreciated just the way they are. Besides, the simple dance moves encourage associating the movements with the text, making it a great sing- and dance-along song.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
12. Let’s Tidy Up by Amanda’s Action Club
This activity song is a good way to make cleaning an enjoyable activity. You could play the song and tidy up the classroom with the kids. After doing it a few times, the little ones may adopt it and establish a connection with the song. So, every time you play this song at the end of the day, they would automatically know what to do.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
13. So Long Now by The Kiboomers
The peppy beats and easy to catch lyrics will make this song a hit among preschoolers. It is just the right goodbye song to end the day on a pleasant note.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
14. Let It Go by Idina Menzel
Did you know?This song from the Disney movie got popular worldwide for a reason. The high notes resonate not only with the little ones but adults as well. It is a beautiful song with a melodic tune that all preschoolers can enjoy before saying their bye-byes.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
15. Twinkle Twinkle by Jane Taylor
This song needs no introduction as it has been popular as a nursery rhyme for ages. The cute song is perfect to end the day in a soft, mellow way. It also leaves your little one envisioning the mysteries of this universe.
Quick fact
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
16. Rock-a-Bye Your Bear by The Wiggles
This lively children’s song by The Wiggles encourages them to rock their teddy bears to sleep. With its catchy tune and playful lyrics, it has become a favorite for young audiences and parents alike. This song could be your next heartwarming anthem with fun lyrics and dancing beats at your toddler’s birthday party. This enchanting musical experience will add the sparkle of joy, fun, and laughter, all adding up to the magic of childhood. So, be sure to play this catchy and joyful melody every time there’s a toddler’s party or just to cheer them up.
Listen to it here: www.youtube.com
Adapting Goodbye Songs For The Classroom
Goodbye songs for toddlers and preschoolers can be incorporated into their school routines to provide a structured transition from school to home. Not only that, studies have shown that any singing activities at school help improve kids’ memory, learning motivation, and creativity. These activities attract children’s attention and stimulate their brains to absorb information. Children who learn through song experience positive emotions. When singing, children are relaxed and more receptive to learning, which helps increase their participation in the classroom. Singing has also been found to help improve children’s concentration and cognitive skills, improving their mental and physical health (3).
So, here are a few tips on adapting and personalizing goodbye songs for toddlers in different parts of the school day and throughout the school year:
1. Timing of goodbye songs
- Signal the end of the day with a consistent goodbye song, like ‘Day O’ Time To Go Home’ so children can understand and anticipate the routine.
- You can use goodbye songs at the end of special events or holidays to show kids the significance of the day and help them remember it better.
- Goodbye songs, especially unique ones like ‘Let It Go,’ can help kids get closure at the end of the school year and celebrate their progress.
2. Personalizing goodbye songs
- Modify the lyrics of goodbye songs to incorporate each child’s name to excite them and make them feel included. For example, “Goodbye [child’s name], see you tomorrow!”
- Adapt the lyrics of a goodbye song to include activities or special instances from the day to help kids remember their lessons better.
- You can include phrases from languages kids speak in your classroom to promote cultural inclusivity. For instance, if there is a child of Japanese descent in the class, include the word “Sayonara,” meaning “goodbye.”
3. Adapt songs to classroom needs
- Simple goodbye songs like ‘Skinnamarink’ can be modified with dance moves or actions to help children who learn with movement (kinesthetic learners) better and make the goodbye more interactive.
- You can use visual aids like puppets or gestures to help young toddlers understand the lyrics of the song better, especially if they are visual learners.
- Choose goodbye songs that are calming, like ‘Twinkle Twinkle,’ to help children who feel anxious during transitions to provide a soothing and peaceful end to their school day.
Illustration: Best Goodbye Songs For Toddlers And Preschoolers
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some benefits of singing goodbye songs with preschoolers?
Singing goodbye songs with preschoolers sparks a positive attitude and is a beautiful way to say goodbyes. It also helps promote socializing, builds confidence, and helps develop language and emotional skills.
2. What are some ways to make goodbye songs more interactive for preschoolers?
Along with singing goodbye songs, you may also ask them to dance to the tunes or say sweet and kind words to their friends before bidding goodbye.
3. How can I use goodbye songs more effectively for preschoolers?
You can incorporate goodbye songs in preschoolers’ routines to help them process their emotions and make goodbyes easier. To do this, use the same goodbye songs for the same activities to create familiarity. Incorporate movement, acting, and simple dance steps to engage them. You can also involve the parents so they can continue to teach kids the songs at home.
These were some of the simple and calming goodbye songs for preschoolers. Singing kid-friendly songs, in general, could benefit young children in more than one way and aids them in building positive attitudes, besides fostering their language and social skills. So, teach them enchanting goodbye songs by encouraging them to sing after you. Also, having your preschooler render a sweet goodbye song is not just a treat to your ears but also a great way to end the day on a cheerful note.
Infographic: Goodbye Songs For Preschoolers
Goodbyes are never easy. And it can be more tricky to deal with if it is a toddler. So, to help ease their mind, we bring goodbye songs for preschoolers that can come in handy for you in certain situations. So, keep scrolling. Save and share it with others too! Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Goodbye songs for kids help them express sadness and bid farewell.
- Kids find it hard to process their emotions, so songs help articulate their feelings.
- These songs can be sung for many occasions, like saying goodbye to friends, losing a pet, or ending a day at school.
- Saying goodbye is hard, but songs like See You Later, Alligator, So Long Now, and Let It Go, help kids convey their feelings better.
Prepare for a heartwarming farewell with the delightful “Goodbye, See You Soon” song! Watch this video for a musical adventure filled with hugs, smiles, and promises of reuniting.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Preschool Story Time: Bugs.https://liltexaslibrary.wordpress.com/tag/story-time/
References
- José Salvador Blasco-Magraner et. al; (2021); Effects of the Educational Use of Music on 3- to 12-Year-Old Children’s Emotional Development: A Systematic Review.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8037606/#sec5-ijerph-18-03668 - Did You Know “Goodbye” is Short for “God Be with You?
https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/goodbye-is-short-for-god-be-with-you.html#:~:text=The%20first%20known%20use%20of - Putri Yanuarita Sutikno et. al.; (2024); The Effects of Singing Activities on Children’s Memory, Learning Motivation, and Creativity in an Indonesian Kindergarten for Preschoolers.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377915143_The_Effects_of_Singing_Activities_on_Children’s_Memory_Learning_Motivation_and_Creativity_in_an_Indonesian_Kindergarten_for_Preschoolers
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