Good Show Tunes for Kids

76 Trombones

• The Music Man, which was released in 1962, is one of the great musical movies of all time. The show is full of catchy, easy-to-sing tunes with lyrics that kids can catch on to fairly quickly. "76 Trombones" is easy to learn and fun to sing. It's a particularly good song to teach to groups of kids. If you have room, have them march parade-style while singing.

Castle on a Cloud

• Whether in the original book, the Broadway production or the hit movie version of 2012, Les Miserables is one of the most powerfully moving stories of redemption of all time. "Castle on a Cloud" is a sweet song sung by Cosette, a young girl whose mother had to leave her with innkeepers to seek employment. Cosette's life is one of drudgery and toil, but she dreams of a place where "crying at all is not allowed" in her feature song "Castle on a Cloud."

Here On Who

• Seussical the Musical hit the Broadway stage in November of 2000, featuring dozens of beloved characters from the books of Dr. Seuss. The show is full of fun songs that are easy for kids to learn and fun to sing. One of the show's best songs, especially for groups of children to sing, is "Here On Who," which tells of the plight of the tiny Whos from Whoville as they struggle to make themselves be heard in the great big world. For extra fun, read "Horton Hears a Who!" and "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," both of which prominently feature the Whos, before teaching your kids the song.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

• The Wizard of Oz has a place in U.S. culture that few movies can rival. Released in 1939, it introduced many Americans to Technicolor. It continues to receive regular airplay on network and cable television today. Oz features plenty of fun songs, from the energetic "Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead" and "We're Off to See the Wizard" to the contemplative "If I Only Had a Heart." If you're looking for a show stopper for your little Broadway starlet-to-be, have her sing the show's best known tune, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Consider Yourself

• Based on the Charles dickens classic "Oliver Twist," Oliver! debuted in 1960 and was adapted to the big screen in 1968. The original Broadway cast featured Davy Jones, who would later go on to worldwide fame as the tambourine shaking lead singer of The Monkees, in the role of the Artful Dodger. Children are featured prominently in the show, and many of its songs are well-suited for kids. "Consider Yourself" is a fun song about friendship and belonging. In the story, Dodger is singing it to Oliver in hopes of luring him in to a life of crime, but the song is still a lot of fun. Other fun songs kids can sing from Oliver! include "Food, Glorious Food," "I'd Do Anything," and "Be Back Soon."