The secret recipe for the ultimate children’s tune has been cracked, boasting a rhythm and chords that echo the iconic sounds of Queen and Beyonce.
University of Sheffield’s music psychology expert Dr. Michael Bonshor has delved into a myriad of children’s hits to decode the magic formula that captivates young listeners.
His findings reveal that an ideal kids’ anthem should pulse with a BPM of 60-120, embrace a ‘marching or swaying’ beat, and feature catchy, repetitive lyrics that rhyme, all set in a cheerful major key for that feel-good vibe.
Chart-toppers like Queen’s ‘Radio Ga Ga’ and ‘We Will Rock You’, alongside Beyonce’s ‘All the Single Ladies’, are prime examples of this winning formula.
But these tracks aren’t just earworms; they’re instrumental in teaching vital skills to tots, as their consistent beats support the development of motor abilities and coordination.
Dr Bonshor elaborated on the structure of children’s melodies: “Children’s music tends to have a simple structure, either with a verse-chorus pattern or just one repeated stand-alone chorus.”
He added, “There is often a lot of repetition in the lyrics and melody, which is usually in a bright, major key, is pitched relatively high, and uses a fairly small range of notes.”
Moreover, he noted, “The songs have a steady and predictable rhythm, at the kind of speed which encourages children to dance or sway along.”
“When there are appealing, repeated lyrics and melodies, young children can’t resist joining in with the words, adding actions, bopping around, or doing all three at the same time.”
A study of 500 parents, with children aged 0-5, revealed eight in ten tots listen to music every day. Six in ten parents believe exposure to new words and sounds aids cognitive development, while 74% believe music has aided their child’s development.
For just under half (49%), music helps calm and soothe children, while 41% believe it enhances their social skills as they can sing along with others.
Dr Bonshor has collaborated with toy manufacturers, Fisher-Price, who commissioned the study, to celebrate the launch of its new Link Squad collection.
Link Squad is a new range of toys that allows children to play along with other members of the Link Squad band, helping them learn key skills through music by singing and playing with others.
However, it’s not just cognitive skills that can be gained through listening to music, engaging with songs can strengthen the bond between caregiver and child through synchronised movements and shared body language.
Bonshor added: “Many parents use music to engage with their children, most often singing to them, playing songs, or moving to music.”
“These musical activities help children and parents to interact and bond with each other and they also help infants to develop communication skills, such as listening, turn-taking, and expressing and channelling their emotions.”
He continues: “Music is often used to regulate mood and behaviour, with many parents using songs to soothe and entertain their children, and this can develop into a lifelong interest in music.”
Around three out of ten (29%) have children who enjoy songs that incorporate some physical actions and nearly a quarter (23%) prefer a song that has a clearly defined story, like Humpty Dumpty sitting on a wall.
TV presenter and radio host, Gemma Atkinson, who is collaborating with the brand, said: “I think music is so valuable for my son, Thiago’s, development because it energises him. It helps with his coordination and it’s something fun that we can do together as a family.”
She added: “I’d say the music Thiago responds the most to is anything with an up-tempo beat, anything he can clap along to or bounce to.”
Atkinson shared a heartwarming anecdote, revealing: “And he is partial to trying to add his own backing vocals on the school run. If the radio is on, he’ll try and sing along with his ‘ah ah, ooh ooh’ as best he can, it’s really sweet.”
The timeless singalong ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ was voted as the top favourite song among kids, followed closely by ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ and ‘Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes’.
DR BONSHOR’S FORMULA FOR THE ‘PERFECT’ KIDS SONG:
- 60-120 BPM + marching/swaying rhythm + repetition + rhyming lyrics + high pitch and bright tone + simple structure* + limited number of notes + interactive**
- *One section that is repeated or alternating verse-chorus structure
- **Interactive = potential for joining in with actions, repeated lyrics, dancing or swaying