Developing early numeracy and water confidence is easy with music. Our counting song, “Five Little Babies Swimming in the Pool”, is designed to help toddlers learn to count from one to five while building a positive association with the water.
Song Lyrics
One little baby splash and play, Learning to swim—yay, yay, yay! They had such fantastic fun, That they called for another baby to come!
Two babies they splash and play, Learning to swim—yay, yay, yay! They had such fantastic fun, That they called for another baby to come!
Three babies they splash and play…
Four babies they splash and play…
Five babies they splash and play, Learning to swim—yay, yay, yay! They had such fantastic fun, That they called for another baby to come!
Educational Benefits
1. Early Numeracy
By counting up from one to five, children learn basic addition and sequencing. The repetitive melody makes it easy for young minds to predict what number comes next, a core pillar of early childhood development.
2. Physical Coordination
We use this song to encourage active splashing and playing. Matching physical movements—like splashing hands or kicking feet—to the rhythm of the song helps develop gross motor skills in the pool.
3. Social Interaction
This is a “call and response” style song. When we sing “called for another baby to come,” it encourages children to engage with their peers and wait for their turn to join the activity.
How to Use This Song
- In the Pool: Sing along while your child practices their kicking and splashing.
- During Bath Time: Use toys to represent the “five little babies” and count them as they enter the water.
- On the Go: Play the official video to keep your child entertained and familiarise them with the counting sequence before their next swim lesson.
For more music-based learning, check out our full playlist of Baby Swim Songs, including classics like “If You’re Happy and You Know It”.