Spanish Lullabies for Kids: Lyrics, Videos, and Lessons
If you’re looking for the best way to excite your young children about learning a foreign language, Spanish lullabies for kids is the answer!
The power of lullabies is strong. Even today, if you hear a sweet song from your childhood, your mind starts wandering down memory lane and suddenly, you envision a special moment when your mother was singing to you.
Lullabies for kids not only help to instill meaningful memories, but also spark the development of your children’s concentration, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Beyond that, lullabies foster rhythmic engagement as they boost your child’s creativity!
By actively learning and practicing Spanish lullabies, you support your child’s acquisition of this language as they grow.
In this blog post, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best Spanish lullabies for kids that you and your family will love. Each song on my list comes with fun activity ideas for you to practice with your little one and learn more vocabulary.
¡Ahora, a las canciones de cuna!
Now, on to the lullabies!
Estrellita ¿dónde estás?
“Estrellita ¿dónde estás?” is a translation of one of the most famous Spanish lullabies for kids: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” While the literal translation is not identical to the famous English lyrics, the idea of seeking out a star in the night sky is still prevalent.
Some have said that famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the original artist of the tune for the lullaby, but it’s not true. In fact, the composer’s identity is still a mystery. However, we do know where the lyrics come from—published in 1806 and titled “The Star,” it was originally a poem by English author Jane Taylor.
| Spanish | English (direct translation) | English Song |
| Estrellita ¿dónde estás? Me pregunto qué serás. En cielo y en el mar un diamante de verdad. Estrellita ¿dónde estás? Me pregunto qué serás. | Little star, where are you? I wonder what you are. In the sky and in the sea A real diamond Little star, where are you?I wonder what you are | Twinkle, twinkle, little star How I wonder what you are Up above the world so high Like a diamond in the sky Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are |
Word Association Activity
The song is quite short, which means more quality time you can spend with the kids learning and memorizing the lyrics.
In this activity, you’ll need four half-sheets of paper, markers or crayons, tape, and popsicle sticks.
Have the kids draw a star, a diamond, the sea, and the sky on each half-sheet. Then, help the kids tape a popsicle stick in the back of each drawing. As everyone sings the song, have everyone raise the correspondent drawing whenever they hear the word.
Questions for Discussion
¿En qué momento del día se pueden ver las estrellas?
During which time of the day can you see stars?
¿Por qué la estrellita es comparada a un diamante?
Why is the little star compared to a diamond?
¿En dónde es más probable que encuentres estrellas?
Where are you most likely to find stars?
¿De qué crees tú que están hechas las estrellas?
What do you think stars are made of?
Los pollitos dicen
Los Pollitos Dicen is another lullaby that is very popular among the classic Spanish lullabies for kids, running in the same leagues as “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” Several countries have claimed ownership of this song—Spain being one of them—but academic consensus agrees that the author is Chilean musician and poet Ismael Parraguez Cabezas. The lullaby falls under two categories: de juego (play songs) and nana or canción de cuna (lullaby).
Lyrics
| Spanish | English (direct translation) | English Song |
| Los pollitos dicen Pío, pío, pío Cuando tienen hambre Y cuando tienen frío La gallina busca El maíz y el trigo Les de la comida Y les presta abrigo Bajo sus dos alas Acurrucaditos Hasta el otro día Duermen los pollitos | The chicks say Twit, twit, twit When they are hungry And when they are cold The hen seeks Corn and wheat She gives them food And lends them shelter Under her two wings All snuggled up Until the next day The chicks sleep | Little chickies squeal Pío, pío, pío When they are cold, And when they want a meal Mama goes and gets them Corn from the field Serves them each their food And warms them head to heel Chickies sleep so yummy Snuggled up with mommy And that’s just where they’ll stay Until another day |
Dance Routine Activity
Together with your children, create a short dance routine for the lullaby. It’s easy to mime some of the words and that will help to associate actions with words.
For example, when singing “Los pollitos dicen pío pío pío” the kids can do pinching motions with their thumbs and pointer fingers, as if those were the little chicks’ beaks.
“Cuando tienen hambre” can be mimed with the hands opening and closing in front of their mouths, as if eating something and then with “y cuando tienen frío,” they can shake from the cold. Get creative and have fun!
Number Practice Activity
You can also print several images with different amounts of chicks (say, from one to five or even up to ten) and use them to practice numbers. Before you sing the lullaby, ask your child how many chicks they see and help them to count up to that number in Spanish. It’s a fun and interactive way to combine vocabulary and numbers.
Questions for Discussion
¿Cuántos pollitos hay aquí?
How many chicks are there here?
¿Qué dicen los pollitos cuando tienen hambre?
What do the chicks say when they’re hungry?
¿Qué busca la gallina?
What does the hen seek?
Pin Pon
Of all the Spanish lullabies for kids on this list, this one originates from the teachings of Pin Pon, a little doll on a Chilean kids TV show. He taught kids about values, good habits, and morals through his array of catchy songs. This is why you can find different variations of the song everywhere, including an English version, which expanded it and added more scenarios. However, the Spanish verses included here are the most popular ones.
Lyrics
| Spanish | English (direct translation) | English Song |
| Pin Pon es un muñeco muy guapo de cartón se lava la carita con agua y con jabón Pin Pon siempre se peina con peine de marfil y aunque se hace tirones no llora ni hace así: “¡ay!” Pin Pon dame la mano con un fuerte apretón que quiero ser tu amigo Pin Pon, Pin Pon, Pin Pon | Pin Pon is a doll Very handsome, made of cardboard He washes his face With soap and water. Pin Pon always combs his hair With an ivory comb And although it’s sometimes tangled He doesn’t cry like so “ouch!” Pin Pon give me your hand With a strong shake Because I want to be your friend Pin Pon, Pin Pon, Pin Pon | Pin Pon’s a cardboard cut-out That’s what he’s always been He uses soap and water To get his face all clean He combs his messy hair out With a comb so very small And even though it hurts sometimes, He doesn’t cry at all. And when he has a snack Or drinks a cup of milk He uses both his hands and doesn’t even spill. He listens to his mommy Everytime she speaks He always does his homework Before he goes to sleep And when the stars come out at night And across the sky they sweep He gets under his covers And nods right off to sleep. Pin Pon give me your hand now Stay with me till I’m grown And let’s be friends forever Pin Pon, Pin Pon, Pin Pon |
Body Parts and Coloring Activity
Print out a blank silhouette of a little doll (or what resembles a ginger cookie man). While your children listen to the song, encourage them to color different body parts (pelo, carita, mano) with specific colors as the song mentions them. In this two-part activity, you not only practice body parts, but also colors, helping your little one to expand their vocabulary. When the song ends, you can keep listing more body parts (e.g.: nariz, boca, orejas, ojos, piernas, pies, etc.).
Questions for discussion
¿Qué lecciones nos enseña Pin Pon?
What lessons does Pin Pon teach us?
¿Por qué es importante lavarse la cara?
Why is it important to wash our faces?
Susanita tiene un ratón
This song is appropriate for older kids, who will enjoy the complexity of more vocabulary. It’s good practice and it comes with a catchy tune!
After Spanish composer Rafael Pérez Botija wrote the song, it was popularized by Emilio Alberto Aragón Bermúdez, most commonly known by his artistic name, Miliki.
Lyrics
| Spanish | English (direct translation) |
| Susanita tiene un ratón Un ratón chiquitín Que come chocolate y turrón Y bolitas de anís Duerme cerca del radiador Con la almohada en los pies Y sueña que es un gran campeón Jugando al ajedrez Le gusta el fútbol, el cine y el teatro Baila tangos y rock’n roll Y si llegamos y nota que observamos Siempre nos canta esta canción Susanita tiene un ratón Un ratón chiquitín Que come chocolate y turrón Y bolitas de anís Duerme cerca del radiador Con la almohada en los pies Y sueña que es un gran campeón Jugando al ajedrez | Susanita has a mouse A tiny mouse Who eats chocolate and nougat And anise balls He sleeps near the radiator With the pillow on his feet And dreams of being a champion At playing chess He likes soccer, cinema, and theater He dances tangos and rock’n roll And if we arrive and he notices that we observe him He always sings this song Susanita has a mouse A tiny mouse Who eats chocolate and nougat And anise balls He sleeps near the radiator With the pillow on his feet And dreams of being a champion At playing chess |
Drawing Scenarios Activity
Have the kids draw the mouse in all the different scenarios during the song, especially when he’s eating the food that the song proposes. If you’re dealing with a big group, have them pick one or two specific moments to draw. It’s also a song for the kids to let off a little steam, since it’s got a great beat they can dance to. Scenarios you’ll find in the song:
- The mouse with Susanita
- The mouse eating chocolate
- The mouse eating turrón
- The mouse sleeping next to the radiador, con la almohada en los pies
- The chess champion mouse
- The mouse playing soccer
- The mouse at the cinema or at the theater
- The mouse dancing
- The mouse singing
Questions for discussion
¿Prefieres el chocolate o el turrón?
Do you prefer chocolate or nougat?
¿Sabes qué son las bolitas de anís?
Do you know what anise balls are?
¿Cuál es tu actividad preferida?
What’s your favorite hobby?
¿En dónde tiene la almohada el ratón mientras duerme?
Where is the pillow when the mouse sleeps?
¿Por qué duerme el ratón cerca del radiador?
Why does the mouse sleep next to the radiator?
Ready… 1, 2, 3 ¡A cantar!
Don’t be afraid to be creative and incorporate different strategies with the children. Music is one of the ways to turn a lesson into something fun and easy to understand. There are many more Spanish lullabies for kids to discover, so rest assured that you won’t run out of options.
If you’re ready to inspire your child to start speaking Spanish instead of only singing it, sign up for a free trial class with our child-friendly, certified Spanish teachers from Guatemala. During the class, you and your child can both be present and interact with the teacher. It’s a safe and comfortable learning environment for kids of all ages—and best of all, you get them speaking Spanish on day one!
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- Spanish Lullabies for Kids: Lyrics, Videos, and Lessons - January 22, 2021
