The ocean is fascinating for children to explore, learn, and sing about. From the crashing waves to the colorful marine life, there’s no shortage of inspiration when creating ocean-themed songs for preschoolers.
Fantastic Ocean Songs for Kids
Row, row, row your boat
This classic song can be adapted for an ocean theme by encouraging kids to “row” their arms like paddling a boat on the waves.
Action: Encourage kids to “row” their arms like they’re paddling a boat on the waves.
Lyrics
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream!
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream!
Row, row, row your boat
Treasure’s down the stream!
Up, down, up, down
Let’s all row and sing!
Under the Sea
This classic from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is perfect for preschoolers, with its catchy tune and upbeat tempo. Encourage kids to sway their arms like seaweed and make swimming motions with their hands.
Action: Encourage kids to sway their arms like seaweed and make swimming motions with their hands.
Lyrics
The seaweed is always greener
In somebody else’s lake
You dream about going up there
But that is a big mistake
Just look at the world around you
Right here on the ocean floor
Such wonderful things surround you
What more is you lookin’ for?
Under the sea
Under the sea
Darling, it’s better
Down where it’s wetter
Take it from me
Up on the shore they work all day
Out in the sun they slave away
While we devotin’
Full time to floatin’
Under the sea
Down here all the fish is happy
As off through the waves they roll
The fish on the land ain’t happy
They sad ’cause they in their bowl
But fish in the bowl is lucky
They in for a worser fate
One day when the boss get hungry
Guess who’s gon’ be on the plate?
Under the sea
Under the sea
Nobody beat us
Fry us and eat us
In fricassee
We what the land folks loves to cook
Under the sea we off the hook
We got no troubles
Life is the bubbles
Under the sea
[Verse 3]
Under the sea
Under the sea
Since life is sweet here
We got the beat here
Naturally
Even the sturgeon an’ the ray
They get the urge ‘n’ start to play
We got the spirit
You got to hear it
Under the sea
The newt play the flute
The carp play the harp
The plaice play the bass
And they soundin’ sharp
The bass play the brass
The chub play the tub
The fluke is the duke of soul
(Yeah)
The ray he can play
The lings on the strings
The trout rockin’ out
The blackfish she sings
The smelt and the sprat
They know where it’s at
An’ oh, that blowfish blow
Under the sea
Under the sea
When the sardine
Begin the beguine
It’s music to me
What do they got? A lot of sand
We got a hot crustacean band
Each little clam here
Know how to jam here
Under the sea
Each little slug here
Cuttin’ a rug here
Under the sea
Each little snail here
Know how to wail here
That’s why it’s hotter
Under the water
Ya, we in luck here
Down in the muck here
Under the sea
Baby Shark
You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s a favorite among preschoolers for a reason! Get kids moving with the “shark” motions – chomping their hands together and swimming in circles.
Action: Have kids chomp their hands together like a shark and swim in circles.
Lyrics
Baby Shark, do do do do do do
Baby Shark, do do do do do do
Baby Shark, do do do do do do
Baby Shark
Mommy Shark, do do do do do do
Mommy Shark, do do do do do do
Mommy Shark, do do do do do do
Mommy Shark
Daddy Shark, do do do do do do
Daddy Shark, do do do do do do
Daddy Shark, do do do do do do
Daddy Shark
Grandma Shark, do do do do do do
Grandma Shark, do do do do do do
Grandma Shark, do do do do do do
Grandma Shark
Grandpa Shark, do do do do do do
Grandpa Shark, do do do do do do
Grandpa Shark, do do do do do do
Grandpa Shark
Let’s go play, do do do do do do
Let’s go play, do do do do do do
Let’s go play, do do do do do do
Let’s go play
Run away, do do do do do do
Run away, do do do do do do
Run away, do do do do do do
Run away
Hungry Sharks, do do do do do do
Hungry Sharks, do do do do do do
Hungry Sharks, do do do do do do
Hungry Sharks
Feed the sharks, do do do do do do
Feed the sharks, do do do do do do
Feed the sharks, do do do do do do
Feed the sharks
It’s the end, do do do do do do
It’s the end, do do do do do do
It’s the end, do do do do do do
It’s the end
Octopus’s Garden
The Beatles’ whimsical tune is fun for preschoolers to sing and dance along to. Have kids wave their arms like tentacles and make “bloop bloop” sounds.
Action: Have kids wave their arms like tentacles and make “bloop bloop” sounds.
Lyrics
I’d like to be under the sea
In an octopus’s garden in the shade
He’d let us in, knows where we’ve been
In his octopus’s garden in the shade
I’d ask my friends to come and see
An octopus’s garden with me
I’d like to be under the sea
In an octopus’s garden in the shade
We would be warm below the storm
In our little hideaway beneath the waves
Resting our head on the seabed
In an octopus’s garden near a cave
We would sing and dance around
Because we know we can’t be found
I’d like to be under the sea
In an octopus’s garden in the shade
We would shout and swim about
The coral that lies beneath the waves
(Lies beneath the ocean waves)
Oh what joy for every girl and boy
Knowing they’re happy and they’re safe
(Happy and they’re safe)
We would be so happy, you and me
No one there to tell us what to do
I’d like to be under the sea
In an octopus’s garden with you
In an octopus’s garden in the shade
We would shout and swim about
The coral that lies beneath the waves
(Lies beneath the ocean waves)
Oh what joy for every girl and boy
Knowing they’re happy and they’re safe
(Happy and they’re safe)
We would be so happy, you and me
No one there to tell us what to do
I’d like to be under the sea
In an octopus’s garden with you.
The Waves on the Sea
This folk song is perfect for teaching preschoolers about the different types of waves they might see at the beach. Have kids make big arm motions for “big waves” and small, gentle motions for “little waves.”
Action: Have kids make big arm motions for “big waves” and small, gentle motions for “little waves”.
Lyrics
The Waves in the Sea Go Up & Down Up & Down Up & Down
The Waves on the Sea Go Up & Down All Day Long
The Fish in the Sea goes Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish Swish
The Fish in the Sea goes Swish Swish Swish All Day Long
The Turtle in the Sea goes Snap Snap Snap Snap Snap Snap Snap Snap Snap
The Turtle in the Sea goes Snap Snap Snap All Day Long
The Shark in the Sea goes Chomp Chomp Chomp Chomp Chomp Chomp Chomp Chomp Chomp
The Shark in the Sea goes Chomp Chomp Chomp All Day Long
The Boat in the Sea goes Tut Tut Tut Tut Tut Tut Tut Tut Tut
The Boat in the Sea goes Tut Tut Tut All Day Long
The Waves in the Sea Go Up & Down Up & Down Up & Down
The Waves on the Sea Go Up & Down All Day Long
Five Little Fishies
This counting song is a great way to help preschoolers learn their numbers. Have kids hold up their fingers as they count each “fishy,” and make swimming motions with their hands.
Action: Have kids hold up their fingers as they count each “fishy” and make swimming motions with their hands.
Lyrics
Five little fishies, swimming in a pool
The first one said, “The pool is cool.”
The second one said, “The pool is deep.”
The third one said, “I want to sleep.”
The fourth one said, “Let’s dive and dip.
The fifth one said, “I see a ship.”
Fisherman’s boat comes,
Line goes kersplash
Five little fish swims away in a Flush.
The Mermaid Song
This original song is perfect for preschoolers who love mermaids! Have kids make swimming motions with their arms and pretend to brush their hair like a mermaid.
Action: Have kids make swimming motions with their arms and pretend to brush their hair like a mermaid.
Lyrics
Are mermaids real or make believe,
cos I think I saw one swimming in the sea
Her tail had silver scales and her hair was very long,
and as she swam she sang a mermaid song
Oooohh (wobble your lips as you sing!)
Are mermaids real or are they fake,
cos I think I saw one swimming in the lake
Her tail had silver scales and her hair was very long,
and as she swam she sang a mermaid song
Oooohh (wobble your lips as you sing!)
Are mermaids real or just in dreams,
cos I think I saw one swimming in the stream
Her tail had silver scales and her hair was very long,
and as she swam she sang a mermaid song
Oooohh (wobble your lips as you sing!)
Yellow Submarine
Another Beatles hit, this song is fun for preschoolers to sing and dance along to. Encourage kids to make “submarine” motions with their arms and pretend to dive deep into the ocean.
Action: Encourage kids to make “submarine” motions with their arms and pretend to dive deep into the ocean.
Lyrics
In the town where I was born
Lived a man who sailed to sea
And he told us of his life
In the land of submarines
So we sailed up to the sun
Till we found a sea of green
And we lived beneath the waves
In our yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
And our friends are all aboard
Many more of them live next door
And the band begins to play
We all live in a yellow submarine.
With these eight ocean songs for preschoolers with actions, you’ll have a repertoire of fun and educational songs to share with your little ones. So put on sunscreen and hit the beach – it’s time to sing and dance!
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Next startup Cledemy.Com)