Sing it Clean: 8 Silly Songs to Get Chores Done
Motivating a preschooler to clean up can be as frustrating as herding cats. Instead of sending your toddler into a tailspin when playtime is over, encourage him to sing along to make the job go faster.
C-L-E-A-N (Sing to the tune of B-I-N-G-O)
There was a boy who made a mess and Mommy said to clean up
C-L-E-A-N, C-L-E-A-N, C-L-E-A-N,
And Mommy said to clean up.
(For subsequent verses, pick up a toy in place of the letter C, then CL and so on.)
Time to Set the Table (Sing to the tune of Old Mac Donald)
Set the table for our meal
It’s dinner time, you know!
And on our table we need some PLATES
Wonder where they go?
A PLATE goes here, a PLATE goes there.
Here at PLATE, there a PLATE, everywhere a PLATE, PLATE
Set the table for our meal
It’s dinner time, you know!
(Then insert the words fork, knife, spoon, glass, bowl and napkin)
Clean, Clean, Clean Your Room (Sing to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Clean, clean, clean your room
Just as Mom would do
Dust and fold and make the bed
And pick the toys up, too.
(Sing in rounds—everyone staggering their start time—for a longer song)
If Your Clothes Are on the Floor (Sing to the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It)
If your clothes are on the floor, pick them up.
If your clothes are on the floor, pick them up.
If your clothes are on the floor, then don’t leave them there,
If your clothes are on the floor, pick them up.
(For other verses, exchange clothes for toys, books, Legos, Barbies, etc.)
The Dishes Song (Sing to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)
This is the way we wash a cup, wash a cup, wash a cup.
This is the way we wash a cup so the dishes will be done.
(For other verses, exchange cup for glass, spoon, fork, knife, plate, bowl)
Match the Socks (Sing to the tune of Are you Sleeping?)
Where’s the blue sock?
Where’s the blue sock?
It’s right here.
It’s right here.
Roll it in a ball and tuck the socks to-gether.
One match found.
One match found.
Clean Up the Toys (Sing to the tune of The Adams Family)
Clean up the toys (snap, snap)
Clean up the toys (snap, snap)
Clean up the toys
Clean up the toys
Clean up the toys (snap, snap)
There’s Legos and there’s dollies
Lots of trucks and Barbies
Play food, balls and drawings
And lots of board games, too.
Clean up the toys (snap, snap)
Clean up the toys (snap, snap)
Clean up the toys
Clean up the toys
Clean up the toys (snap, snap)
The Toys on the Floor (Sing to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus)
The Legos on the floor go in the bin,
In the bin
In the bin.
The Legos on the floor go in the bin,
Look! It’s almost clean.
(Other verses could include):
The dolls on the floor go in their beds
The books on the floor go on the shelf
The crayons on the floor go in the box
The cars on the floor go in their garage
The animals on the floor go back to the zoo
The clothes on the floor go in the hamper
The shoes on the floor go on the rack
Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and mother of three teens. Her silly songs continue to motivate her children to clean up quickly—if only to stop her from embarrassing them with her silly songs.
Read our article "Local Author Salina Yoon Creates Children's Book with Marie Kondo" to learn another game that turns laundry time into a fun family activity!
