Little Brain Builders: Language

“With a moo-moo, here,
And a moo-moo there,
Here a moo, there a moo,
Everywhere a moo, moo”

“Old McDonald Had a Farm” is such a catchy tune that, when you sing it, it may get accidentally stuck in your head all day!

But "Old McDonald” is more than a catchy tune. It actually teaches young children language from a very early age thanks to its repetition of animal sounds.

All music elongates sounds and breaks down language into beats, which is easier for little minds to digest. With animal sounds, we add an additional repetitive layer that helps children better understand other sounds. These sounds, coupled with musical beats, make it easier for children to learn language, which is the basis for reading and writing later.

To learn more about language and how to incorporate talking activities into your child’s day, visit First 5 California.

Want to find books that have more animal sounds? Check out our list here!

Jane Foster's Animal Sounds

Oink-oink! Moo! Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Animal Talk