Counting songs are some of the very first tools we use to learn numbers as children. Through catchy melodies and simple, repetitive lyrics, these nursery rhymes help little ones count up or down while keeping track of objects, animals, or even their own fingers.
This collection brings together seven of the most popular counting songs, carefully chosen to make early number learning playful, memorable, and fun for kids.
Table of Contents
What are counting songs?
Counting songs are simple, repetitive songs that help children learn numbers through music, rhythm, and movement.
They usually include a clear numeric pattern—counting up, counting down, or adding and subtracting characters—making abstract number concepts easier to understand. Because the numbers are embedded in melody and rhyme, children absorb them naturally while singing and playing.
Beyond basic numeracy, counting songs also support memory, sequencing, language development, and motor coordination (especially when paired with fingerplay or actions). They turn early math into a playful experience, helping young learners build confidence with numbers long before formal arithmetic begins.
7 great counting songs
1.
Ten Little Fingers
“Ten Little Fingers” is a nursery rhyme and a counting game. It is sung to learn how to count to ten by using your hands. It’s should not be confused with other similar songs like “Ten Little Fingers (and Ten Little Toes)” or “I Have Ten Little Fingers”.
For free karaoke download, click here.
One little, two little, three little fingers
Four little, five little, six little fingers
Seven little, eight little, nine little fingers,
Ten little fingers on my hands.
Ten little, nine little, eight little fingers
Seven little, six little, five little fingers
Four little, three little, two little fingers,
one little finger on my hand.
2.
Five Little Monkeys
“Five Little Monkeys” is a “repetitive” nursery rhyme, that means the text stays same for every turn, with only a small part of a verse changing every time. Other songs in the same form are “Baby Bumblebee”, “If You’re Happy and You Know It”, “Rain, Rain, Go Away”, “Wheels on the Bus”, “Old MacDonald had a Farm” and “Finger Family“.
For free karaoke download, click here.
1. Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said:
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
2. Four little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said:
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
3. Three little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said:
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
4. Two little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said:
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
5. One little monkey jumping on the bed
He fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said:
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
6. No little monkeys jumping on the bed
None fell off and bumped his head
So Momma called the doctor and the doctor said:
“Put those monkeys back in bed!”
3.
Ten in the Bed
“Ten in the Bed” is found in many cultures worldwide and it’s used to help children count backwards from ten to one.
With its repetitive “roll over” refrain and predictable structure, the song makes subtraction easy to follow and fun to sing.
For free karaoke download, click here.
1. There were ten in the bed
and the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over and one fell out
2. There were nine in the bed
and the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over and one fell out
3. There were eight in the bed
and the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over and one fell out
4. There were seven in the bed
and the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over and one fell out
5. There were six in the bed
and the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over and one fell out
6. There were five in the bed
and the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over and one fell out
7. There were four in the bed
and the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over and one fell out
8. There were three in the bed
and the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over and one fell out
9. There were two in the bed
and the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over and one fell out
10. There was one in the bed
and the little one said
“I’m lonely, I’m lonely”!
4.
Finger Family
“Finger Family” is a nursery rhyme in “repetitive” form (the text stays same for every turn, with only a small part of a verse change every time). You can find the same “repetitive” form in songs as “Baby Bumblebee”, “If You’re Happy and You Know It”, “Rain, Rain, Go Away”, “Wheels on the Bus”, “Old MacDonald had a Farm” and “Five Little Monkeys”.
For free instrumental download, click here.
1. Daddy finger, daddy finger, where are you?
Here I am, here I am. How do you do?
2. Mommy finger, Mommy finger, where are you?
Here I am, here I am. How do you do?
3. Brother finger, Brother finger, where are you?
Here I am, here I am. How do you do?
4. Sister finger, Sister finger, where are you?
Here I am, here I am. How do you do?
5. Baby finger, Baby finger, where are you?
Here I am, here I am. How do you do?
5.
Ten Green Bottles
“Ten Green Bottles” is a popular English children’s song. The ten stanzas are almost same, but the number of the bottles is one less every time. This is what makes this an appropriate song for a child to learn how to count down. Other counting songs are “Five Little Monkeys”, “Finger Family”, “Hickory, Dickory, Dock”, “Ten Little Fingers” and “This Old Man”.
For free instrumental download, click here.
1. Ten green bottles hanging on the wall
Ten green bottles hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be nine green bottles hanging on the wall.
2. Nine green bottles hanging on the wall
Nine green bottles hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be eight green bottles hanging on the wall.
3. Eight green bottles hanging on the wall
Eight green bottles hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be seven green bottles hanging on the wall.
4. Seven green bottles hanging on the wall
Seven green bottles hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be six green bottles hanging on the wall.
5. Six green bottles hanging on the wall
Six green bottles hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be five green bottles hanging on the wall.
6. Five green bottles hanging on the wall
Five green bottles hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be four green bottles hanging on the wall.
7. Seven green bottles hanging on the wall
Seven green bottles hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be six green bottles hanging on the wall.
8. Six green bottles hanging on the wall
Six green bottles hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be five green bottles hanging on the wall.
9. Five green bottles hanging on the wall
Five green bottles hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be four green bottles hanging on the wall.
10. One green bottle hanging on the wall
One green bottle hanging on the wall
And if that one green bottle should accidentally fall,
There’ll be no green bottles hanging on the wall!
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6.
One, Two, Three, Four, Five (Once I Caught a Fish Alive)
A traditional counting rhyme that takes children from one to ten through a simple and memorable story about catching a fish.
Its playful rhythm and finger-counting pattern make it perfect for early number practice.
For free karaoke download, click here.
1. One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let it go again.
2. Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on the right.
7.
Five Little Ducks
A gentle counting-down song in which five little ducks go out one day and return one by one.
The repetitive structure and emotional storyline make it a favorite for teaching subtraction and sequencing.
For free karaoke download, click here.
1. Five little ducks went swimming one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack,”
But only four little ducks came back.
2. Four little ducks went swimming one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack,”
But only three little ducks came back.
3. Three little ducks went swimming one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack,”
But only two little ducks came back.
4. Two little ducks went swimming one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack,”
But only one little duck came back.
5. One little duck went swimming one day,
Over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack,”
But no little ducks came swimming back.
6. Sad mother duck went out one day
Over the hill and far away
The sad mother duck said “Quack, quack, quack,”
And all of the five little ducks came back.
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