Once a year I write new hello and goodbye songs for my preschool and kindergarten groups so they have fresh songs, especially for the start of the school year. I started this tradition of writing new hello & goodbye songs every year about six years ago, and by now, there are so many hello and goodbye songs that live inside the Music For Kiddos Community; some of which I share on this blog post.
Something I feel strongly about hello songs specifically? A quality hello song that is executed well can set the tone for the rest of your music experience with kids. Pair a quality hello songs with movement, and you get endless opportunities to engage children and give them an opportunity to regulate kids’sensory systems.
A movement-based hello song
Speaking of movement, I have a movement-based hello song that your students will LOVE. Say Hello (from your head to your toes) incorporates a lot of structured movement and also provides a "boogie break", which is the perfect opportunity for kids to engage in creative movement. (Btw, I wholeheartedly believe every song needs a boogies break. Just sayin' 😉).
Say Hello is probably our most requested song OF ALL TIME! It’s actually a song I featured on Instagram that went viral in 2023 🤯 This song has been shared with kids in countless of countries and has been translated to many languages including Spanish (we also love this version), French, Dutch, and Polish!
Here are the lyrics:
Say hello from your head to your toes
Say hello from your head to your toes
Say hello from your head to your toes
‘Cause it’s time to say hello
Say hello with your ________
Say hello with your ________
Say hello with your ________
‘Cause it’s time to say hello
* Would you like the leadsheet (chords and full lyrics) of this song? Download it at the bottom of this page!
We have received hundreds of comments and DMs over our different social media platforms requesting a recording of this song... so here it is! Plus, we also released the backing track 🥳
You can find Say Hello on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, YouTube Music and all streaming platforms. Search for “Stephanie Leavell.”
There are an UNLIMITED number of adaptations and different ways that children can participate, connect with their peers, and - of course - have fun!
Say hello with your fingers…
Say hello with your hips…
Say hello with your eyebrows… (I think this could be a really fun and engaging one 😉)
Download the chords/lyrics for Say Hello!
Have you used Say Hello in your classes or sessions? Would love for you to tell us in the comments below!
