English and Russian version of this song for kids, I am considering putting some of these songs to an audio format. Crocodiles are large and concrete. Songs and music are a great way to learn a language. Even I listen to BabyTV songs in other languages.

Kids like Crocodiles like dinosaurs because they are real. Kids do not understand abstract things, that is the world of adults. I teach languages and I know that kids like nouns and real things, and adults like to talk politics and philosophy. They would rather look at a Green over-sized reptile any day than talk about abstract things like economics.

Kids like alligators and crocodiles because they are a very vivid green.  My daughter does not like these in between shades of I do not know what color it is. alligators are green its clear. Green is green.

The Crocodile song for children

This song is short, it is not suppose to be a long verse, just simply repeated.

Шел крокодил
The crocodile was crawling along,
He was smoking a long pipe,

As he was crawling a long and along with his long pipe.
The long pipe fell on the ground
and ….:

крокодил
Трубку курил
Трубка упала
И написала:

Шел крокодил,
Трубку курил,
Трубкаупала
и написала…

And he went on and on

crawling along

without his long pipe

.
It is a good song when you want to make your child tired, maybe because it is a little boring.

Try to add some more meat to the song by making up more adventures with the Crocodile.

Russian children songs - The Crocodile

My child is listening to children’s songs all the time as I think there is a connection between music and learning and the brain.

Lullaby to my grandchild

For every children grandmother is the most liked person ever. It is because she have a time to take care about the child, have their own experience and of course have a free time to spend it with a newborn. In Eastern Europe like Russia or Poland or Ukraine (I live in Poland). The Babcia really is the one who raises the kids because the parents are at work all day. It is usually the mother’s mother.

We live in a city so this is not the case, however, my daughter does visit her grandmother in the countryside for an extended period of time.

When I was young my Ukrainian grandmother would sing to me when she visited. Grandparents are really close to children in Slavic society. Often Kid’s have warmer feelings towards grandparents as the parents were the enforcers or order and responsibility and grandparents are unconditional love.

Lullaby to my grandchild

БАБУШКА ДЛЯ МОЕЙ ДЕВОЧКИ
Good morning, my beautiful, good morning my sunhine.
Good morning, my beautiful, good morning
I love you
I love you.

Доброе утро красивая
Доброе утро красивая
Я тебя люблю
Я тебя люблю.

Do not be afraid of anything Tatusu is here
Do not be afraid of anything now it is Mamusu
I will take care of you my darling always
I will take care of you and be here,

Just rest your eyes and drift to sleep.

Hi, my sweet darling, I’m Mama
Hi,  my sweet darling, your Mama
I love you,
I’ll take care of you.

Привет радость я мама
Привет твоя мама
Я тебя люблю
Я тебе помогy.

Children have to know and feel that their parents like them and take care of them. Singing such kind of songs is the way to show it. I will try to find a better song then this. I will have to go to the library and find some Russian books and translate them as this one is too simple of a Lullaby.  I will even sing it myself.

This is a Russian song for kids called Magpie. First question is what is a magpie? Its a European bird like a blue jay. It is more black and white. Most Americans have no idea that a Magpie is, they think it is dessert. But in Eastern Europe they are everywhere. I think they are a pretty shy birds.

Magpie – Magpie

Сорока – Сорокa As I wrote before – children like songs which also can be used as a games. It helps to develop their language, coordination and many other skills, but what children realise is this that they have more fun singing and playing together. To play this song all you need is to take a hand of a child into your hand and runs his finger over the baby’s palm,

The Magpie – The Magpie

The little bird cooks porridge,

then, feeding it to little children one by one.

Сорока – сорока, Кашу варила, Деток кормила.

The next step is to bend gently in a demonstrative way each of the child’s fingers (with the exception of the pinkie) while singing with rhythm:

She gave it to this one, She gave it to this one, She gave it to this one, She gave it to this one,

Этому дала, Этому дала, Этому дала, Этому дала,

And when the smallest little finger is gently touched: But she did not give any to this one – Why? You did not bring water, You did not chop fire-wood. There is nothing for you, because you did not give anything to me. If you want to get you have to give.

A этому не дала- Ты воды не носил, Дров не рубил, За кашей не следил!

Russian baby songs - Magpie

Russian kid’s songs

Let me know what you think of this Russian kid’s song – It is a little fable or moral, kind of like Aesop but if you ask me this is too hard. I only tell my daughter nice stories not stories like this.   I do not know maybe they were written in different times. But I guess it is like the animals who did not store nuts for the winter. It is a little lesson.

I will try to find some more positive Russian children’s songs even if they are less traditional. Traditional Russian songs for kids or any culture tend to be a little sad sometimes. Therefore, please write me any you know and I can create a page for it.

This song goes way back and is a traditional Russian kids song. Some kids go to sleep easy – others are up all night. I think it has to do with the children’s diet, but also the natural circadian rhythm.  I live in Eastern Europe then the nights in the winter are very long, but the summer there is almost no night. In the winter it is easier to put children to sleep than summer when its light out until 11 o’clock at night almost.

The best way to put kids to sleep at night is have a time and a plan, like dinner at 5, bath at 6 and sleep at 7, no computers or TV before bed maybe soft music.  Also a baby swing helps.

Anyway here is a night song for kids in Russian of course.

The Night Has Come

Ночь пришла

Russian children songs - The night has come

In my opinion it is the prettiest Russian lullaby. How do you consider this? Do you think your child would like it?

The night has come
And she has brought darkness with her.
Mama went out
and closed the curtains,
Sleep my baby, sleep my child
please  drift to sleep!

Ночь пришла,
Темноту привела.
Вышла маменька,
Закрыла ставеньки.
Баю-бай,
Засыпай!

Let me know how you put your child to sleep at night and what music you listen to. I have an MP3 player and use classical music or ‘ light music. To be honest lullaby’s are best song than listened to from a CD or radio.

Cat and mouse can be a friends but most often they are just enemies. This motive is frequently used to make children fun. Everyone of us remember those cartoon Tom & Jerry. The song I want to present today is also based on this. I have no idea why kids like mice. I think maybe it is because they are small and there are no negative associations with them. We adults thing of the plague etc. Kids just see furry little animals. Me I do not like mice to this day.  But my friend George growing up had a hamster and I guess this is the same.

Hush You Mice!

Мыши водят хоровод

Hush you little mice! a cat is dreaming in the bad, Silent, mice, don’t make noices Don’t wake up the cat we call Vas’ka When he wakes up he bite you.

Мыши водят хоровод. На лежанке дремлет кот. Тише, мыши, не шумите, Кота Ваську не будите! Вот проснется Васька-кот Разобьет ваш хоровод.

Hush you mice!

Let me know if these Russian children’s songs are of any value to you? I think I will write my own Russian songs for kids as these are too short and are not enough.  If you have any traditional Russian songs let me know. I need to build up my list.

Another song for kids, trying singing it to put children to sleep.

Sleeping-a song for kids

Баю

Russian children songs - Sleeping

Sleep-sleep-sleep
Don’t lie close to the bed side
A gray wolf will come
And bite you.

Баю-баюшки-баю,
Не ложися на краю,
Прийдет серенькмй волчок
И укусит за бочок.

Sleep-sleep-sleep

Баю-баю-баиньки

Sleep-sleep-sleep,
We’ll buy valenki for our little son.
We’ll put them on our hiss little legs,
We’ll show him the way on the little road.
Our little son will go step by step,
And he will wear new valenki!

Баю-баю-баиньки,
Купим сыну валенки.
Наденем на ноженъки,
Пустим по дороженъке.
Будет наш сынок ходитъ,
Новы валенки носитъ.

This page is about a children song that people kids love in Russia. The name of this Russian children’s song is Grandmother ate peas.  I think you will like it because it gives you a children’s activity at the end of the song for kids to do.

Peas for kids are simple and green. They are not like eggplants or even pears. Peas are simple and Russian kids take hard green peas and make games out of them much like little small balls or marbles.  I found with kids the best toys do not come from China but are made at home with jars, vegetables or pots and pans.

Grandmother Ate Peas

Баба сеяла горох

This is a short and cheerful song which can be used as a game. I will explain  in a few steps how to play.  But first,  I will write you why children would love to play in it.

Children just love to play with the different cereals and macaroni – to pour it in empty hands and a spoon, spread, pass between the fingers. Naturally, I think I shouldn’t remind you that this activity develops fine motility and sensitivity of children’s fingers.

This game can be glossed over, comparing it with a creative activity.

Song

Grandmother ate some peas.
And said “Oh!”

Баба сеяла горох
И сказала “Ох !”

Russian songs for children - Grandmother ate peas song

How to create it from this song,  with pencil and peas:

• Tell your child text of song.

• Scatter on the paper, along with baby peas, poseyte him.

• Draw on paper curls explain that sown peas proros and stalks out of the land there.

• Together with your child roller plasticine sausages. Flatten out and cleave to their curls.

• Show the child how to crush plasticine peas. Invite him to repeat it.

As you see, this short song is connected with a pretty inventive game and is loved by children in Russia. They like very much spending time in this way.

As far as I remember it was the most unusual and exciting Russian children song. I think when you read what actions are taking place to make it more funny, you will understand why I have always thought in such way. Who are the Hussars? Hussars of course were feared almost like pirates, but on land. They were in the late middle ages horsemen from the Hungarian people. But I think they were latter defined as any light Calvary.

The Hussars Are Coming

Ехали гусары
Sit your baby on your knee, same as in the USA,  like a horse ride and then bounce them up and down (I say up and down, I and down…. then I say):
The Hussars ride the horsies
The Uhlans ride the horsies
The Cossacks ride the horsies.

Ехали гусары
Ехали уланы,
Ехали казаки

Bounce up and down slowly while saying:

At a slow trot, at a slow trot, slowly they ride though the forrests and fields.

Шагом, шагом

Bounce them faster and faster while singing this verse:

At a gallop-gallop-gallop faster and faster- though the meadows and over the streams faster and faster.
Галопом- галопом- галопом
Bounce them very fast until you open your knees  apart and the baby goes down between your lets legs, while the baby is held your arms of course.  – When you do this simultaneouly say -

Boom! Down you go, off the horsies, you go. All the way down of the horses to the ground,

Бух в ямку!

The following is one of my favorite Russian songs for children.  It is said to come from the cossacks, Russian or actually Ukrainian  independent horseman.  These lullabies or songs for children are part story with a moral, part fairy-tale and part song.

I know the word Cossack as different meanings to different people. But this is a children’s song and it means simply brave horseman. Do not read too much into it. Look at the colorful paintings of Cossacks and dolls for kids and you will understand the meaning is like wooden soldier or something.

Russian like other Slavic languages have 100s of diminutives in the language. Like my name is Mark, But it could be anything from Marku, Marekcu, Markey, Markachcu etc. Women in particular know how to make diminutives much better than guys. It is almost like the speak a different language then men.

Cossack lullaby

Russian childrens songs

Казачья Колыбельная Песня

Спи, младенец мой прекрасный,
Баюшки-баю.
Тихо смотрит месяц ясный
В колыбель твою.
Стану сказывать я сказки,
Песенку спою;
Ты ж дремли, закрывши глазки,
Баюшки-баю.

Sleep, my little beautiful one,
Bayushki bayu,
With her quite face the moon, she is looking
upon your bed. (Translators note, Moon in Russian is Luna, therefore it is feminine and is a she. In Slavic languages the translations are often better by leaving gender in, such as referring to the moon as ‘she’ or the clouds as ‘she’).
I will tell you fairy-tales of enchanted places
And sing you  some little songs,
But before I sing to you my darling you must dream, with your little eyes closed,
Bayushki bayu.

Сам узнаешь, будет время,
Бранное житье;
Смело вденешь ногу в стремя
И возьмешь ружье.
Я седельце боевое
Шелком разошью…
Спи, дитя мое родное,
Баюшки-баю.

There will be a time, after you will learn about life,
When with courage you will place your foot into the stirrup
And take your rifle (hmm a little too much for me).
Throw you saddle across your horse
I will sew this saddle from silk.
Sleep now, my dear little child, My little one.
Bayushki bayu.

Богатырь ты будешь с виду
И казак душой.
Провожать тебя я выйду —
Ты махнешь рукой…
Сколько горьких слез украдкой
Я в ту ночь пролью!..
Спи, мой ангел, тихо, сладко,
Баюшки-баю.

You will be as a hero
And a brave Cossack.
Remember, I will ride along with you by your side,
You will just wave your hand
How many secret bitter tears
Will I cry for you that night that you ride away, but now
Sleep, my darling angel, sleep.
Bayushki bayu.

Стану я тоской томиться,
Безутешно ждать;
Стану целый день молиться,
По ночам гадать;
Стану думать, что скучаешь
Ты в чужом краю…
Спи ж, пока забот не знаешь,
Баюшки-баю.

I will cry because I will miss you,
I will wait for you forever for your return,
I will aways pray for you whilst I am waiting,
And in the evening and when night comes, I will wait and dream of where you are,
I will worry about you and fear for your troubles in some distant land.
Sleep now, and do not think of such sadness and sorrows,

Maybe it will never be.
Bayushki bayu.

Дам тебе я на дорогу
Образок святой:
Ты его, моляся богу,
Ставь перед собой;
Да, готовясь в бой опасный,
Помни мать свою…
Спи, младенец мой прекрасный,
Баюшки-баю

I will give you for your travels,
A small icon,
Pray with this resting on your forehead.
Let it be for protection before ride
Please remember your mama.
Sleep, good boy, my beautiful,
Bayushki bayu.

This is a pretty sad song or Russian lullaby. Was it that sad and hard way back then?

More Russian children’s songs

If you want to learn more about Russian children’s songs or you know some Russian songs for children please write me and I can post these.  I am thinking of creating mp3s of some of these songs. I am also considering building a collection of Russian music in general.