15+ Awesome Kids' Songs For When You Can't Hear “Baby Shark” One More Time
Throw on these tunes from the greatest kids' musicians out there, and watch your family show off their best moves.
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It’s high time we wean our kids off a certain shark-themed song! Here are other kids' dance tunes representing the best and brightest of modern kid-friendly music that will have you and your family dancing, laughing, thinking, and most definitely not making chomping motions with your hands.
“Thingamajig” by Lucky Diaz & the Family Jam Band
The Los Angeles-based husband-and-wife dream team of Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gaddis steals hearts with this funny, danceable gem as silly as the word "Thingamajig" itself. Fans can move on to their brand-new album, Buenos Diaz, which just came out and has a few winners of its own.
“Fantastic” by Lucy Kalantari
Her album All The Sounds won the 2019 Grammy for Best Children’s Album, but for this list I went back to “Fantastic,” because who doesn’t love some serious scatting? Kalantari also recorded “Fantástica,” a Spanish version of this scintillating jazz number. Put on your best dancing shoes and your 1920s flapper frills, and crank up this song for your babies.
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“Gotta Be Me” by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Many messages of empowerment aimed at young people feel forced or like they're part of a corporate marketing machine — but not this anthem of individuality, from the king of kid-hop’s first all-ages album, Easy, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. This evergreen hit sounds as fresh and vital today as it did when it first broke through in 2009.
“Love Me For Who I Am” by Brady Rymer
If the hip-hop song above is all about loving your unique self, this classic American rock 'n' roll ditty — inspired by the work the two-time Grammy-nominated musician Brady Rymer did with New Jersey’s Celebrate the Children School for kids with alternative learning styles — is all about telling the world, “Please don’t try to fix me, love me for who I am." I can't think of a better message.
“High Five” by Shine and the Moonbeams
This iconic song from family music’s most authentic R&B soul band is a rallying cry for everything that is good and decent in the world. Flash your peace signs, give a thumb’s up, and smack hands with the friends and family members who you know will always have your back when things get tough.
“Move Like A Saturday Night” by Frances England
This folksy dance number from San Francisco’s queen of indie kids music is ideal for a weekend family dance party. Frances England is the owner of the most evocative, warm, and lovely voice in the world of family music, and her collection of songs, spanning six albums over a dozen years, is a gift that keeps on giving (even after the children have ‘technically’ aged out of this genre).
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"Blankets of Snow" by the Okee Dokee Brothers
The princes of family music’s burgeoning Americana kingdom returned recently with an album of chilly songs honoring their home state of Minnesota. “Blankets of Snow” is the standout star, thanks to clever word play, joyous musicianship, and delightful harmonies perfect for singing around a roaring fire on a winter’s day or around the grill during a summer family cookout. The Okee Dokee Brothers subtly weave universal themes into nearly all their songs, allowing young kids to hear what’s on the surface and then slowly unfurl deeper meanings and metaphors as they grow up. These two guys, Justin Lansing and Joe Mailander, are terrific humans, Grammy winners, and true geniuses.
"Cakenstein"by Gustafer Yellowgold
It’s a slow build, but once this hilarious song gets rolling, you and your kids will be singing about a delicious robot made of cake for many years to come! When you get hungry for something else to eat, belly up to the equally awesome follow-up, “Baconstein.” Even better, all of Gustafer Yellowgold’s songs come complete with incredible animated videos, hand-drawn by Grammy-nominated songwriter and illustrator Morgan Taylor.
"Come on Over to my Dollhouse" by Lunch Money ft. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Kids will request it on repeat because it’s just about the catchiest song ever written, while parents will play it over and over because of all the retro action figure shout-outs littering the lyrics. Dust off your old Castle Grayskull, Dad, because it’s time to play the ultimate game of dollhouse with your kids in this throwback classic from the annals of family music.
“The Princess Who Saved Herself” by Jonathan Coulton
Not only does “The Princess Who Saved Herself” sound good in your ears, it will make your heart sing, too, because every time this Jonathan Coulton masterpiece is downloaded, more money is raised to help people in Haiti. Since its release in 2010 on the Many Hands benefit album, more than $100,000 has been donated to the Haitian People’s Support Project, providing drinking water for thousands and school tuition for kids in tent camps — thanks in large part to this catchy, geeky, and hilarious tale of female empowerment.
“Without You” by Karen K
An elementary school pick-up line anthem for every parent eager to be reunited with their bright-eyed second-grader, and for every kid who can’t wait to forget all about the tricky subtraction problems of math class and wrap their arms around Mom or Dad. Roll down the windows and blast “Without You” before and after you finally reach the front of the line.
"Stand Up for You” by Alphabet Rockers
There’s a lot ailing our world right now, but having the powering phrase, “I will stand up for you” on repeat in your little kids’ expanding minds may go a long way to improving the lives of those less fortunate in the future. And that’s the whole mission of Alphabet Rockers' meaningful hip-hop, a musical mission that was recognized last year with a Grammy nomination.
"Sack Lunch” by Recess Monkey
Picking just one song from Recess Monkey’s prolific kids music career (12 albums in over 13 years…and still counting!) is a daunting task. Do you choose the genius “Oh Lando” for Star Wars fans or “Twins” for, well, twins, or “Brick by Brick” to appease fanatic LEGO builders? I chose “Sack Lunch” because it is impossibly clever and so very catchy! Told from the point of a view of a brown paper lunch bag on a field trip to the museum, any child who has ever been on or dreamed of riding a big yellow bus to the city on a school trip will have a context for this funny song.
“Puppy Dog” by The Not-Its!
There are many clever songs about wanting a dog (Recess Monkey’s “Haven’t Got a Pet Yet”) and confiding in a shaggy best friend (Secret Agent 23 Skidoo’s “Back Home”), but the best live rock band for kids tells a different canine story. This pup is a naughty dog ripping out a teddy bear’s eyes and getting into the Crisco in the kitchen, and yet we're still in puppy love with this tune.
"Seven Days of the Week (I Never Go to Work)" by They Might Be Giants
With this song, off They Might Be Giant's Grammy-winning album Here Come the 123s, kids can finally master the order of the days of the week — and also learn about the joys of shirking off work to go play music.
“Time” by The Pop Ups
When it's time to cool off your dance party: Nominated for three Grammys and the musical stars of NPR’s wildly popular WOW in the World podcast, this Brooklyn electro-pop duo has been dazzling music-loving families for a decade. And if “Time,” their newest slow-jam from Giants of Science is any indication, The Pop Ups show no signs of relinquishing their title of one of the most revered and respected indie kid’s bands in the world.
Bonus Seasonal Song: "Trick or Treat” by Justin Roberts
Hands-down, the greatest Halloween song ever recorded for all ages of ears. Play it loud as your kid lines up their Halloween haul in alphabetical, size, shape, or color order
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Another Bonus Seasonal Song: “Robot For Xmas” by Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips
“Duuuuude, you know what would be awesome?” Listening to this electro-hip-hop pop culture mashup song about a hundred times during the next, and every subsequent, holiday season.
RELATED: The Best Christmas Songs to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
Jeff is a dad of two daughters, an avid traveler, a photographer, an author and a freelance writer who lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife and their cats. In addition to Good Housekeeping, he's written for Parents, Fodor's, Food and Wine, Real Simple and Reader’s Digest, among other print and online publications. Jeff is the publisher of the quarterly literary magazine, Stanchion, and his book, Streets Cats and Where to Find Them, will be published by Running Press in the Summer of 2025.
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