Here is the start of the original song as it is known to many people:

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're happy and you know it,
And you really want to show it,
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

A common variation of the fourth line is "Then your face will surely show it".  The song usually proceeds with other verses that replace "clap your hands" with phrases such as "stomp your feet" or “touch your toes” or “pat your head”.  You can view and print the full lyrics of the Kidsongs version here. 

Repetitive songs that get kids up and moving have always been popular with preschool teachers, camp counselors and parents the world over.  There is a Japanese version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” written by Rihito Kimura called, "Shiawase Nara Te o Tatako" (meaning “If You’re Happy, Clap Your Hands” -- so close!).  This Japanese version is on the movie soundtrack of “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”.

Cal Worthington used a variation of the tune for years, as the advertising jingle for his Worthington auto dealerships throughout the United States (including Alaska!)

The international pedigree of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” traces back to an old Latvian folk song from the early 1900’s.  An instrumental version written by Isaak Dunayevsky was featured in the 1938 Soviet film “Volga-Volga”, directed by Grigori Aleksandrov.  When Aleksandrov came up with the idea for his movie, he was rowing a boat on the San Francisco Bay with his friend, silent film star Charlie Chaplin.  Chaplin jokingly told him that the movie should be called “Volga-Volga”.  Apparently Aleksandrov took him seriously! 

The universal appeal of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” probably comes from its catchy tune, positive message and people's fondness for songs that teach children while entertaining them.  Songs like this one and “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”, “This Old Man" and “Old MacDonald Had A Farm” are all examples of songs with a basic structure and a variable phrase.  These repeated phrases help develop children’s memory and language skills.  The variable lyrics tied to the play along gestures encourage kids to pay attention to different word sounds and meanings -- essential building blocks for reading.  The “play along” aspect of these songs, especially actions like “stomp your feet” and “clap your hands” help the development of balance and coordination.   Fine motor skills also come into play when acting out lyrics like “touch your nose” or miming “a quack, quack here”. 

“If You’re Happy and You Know It” is fun, entertaining, has a positive message and is even good for your kids.  Perhaps that’s why it’s been the most downloaded song here at Kidsongs.com for three months in a row.  We like it and clearly our fans do, too.

Check back often for more blog articles from this series, “Kidsongs Guide to Children’s Songs”.  Learn the history, fun facts and some behind-the-scenes stories about everyone’s favorite songs.

The song "If You're Happy and You Know It" is featured on the "A Day At the Circus" DVD, the "My Favorite Kidsongs Collection" CDs,  "A Day At The Circus" Album Download, The Kidsongs TV  Show episode "Let's Work Together" on DVD and sheet music, too! 

Ever feel torn between your "to do" list and having fun with your child?  Just combine the two and have a guilt-free day.  Toddlers love to help and they love being by their parent's side, so look over that to-do list for the things that you and your child can do together.

Laundry time?  Even two-year-olds can help you sort the colors from the whites and have fun stuffing the clothes into the machine!  You can also make a game out of pairing up the loose socks once they come out of the dryer.  If you digress for a moment and make a sock puppet that sings in silly voices, it's OK!

Cooking -- Yes they can!  Have a roll of cookie dough?  Have your toddler slice it with a wooden or plastic spatula.  They can apply the non-stick spray to the cookie sheet and put the dough on it, too.  They can turn on the egg timer and watch it tick away.  Have some tubes of frosting?  Your kids can make  smiles and frowns and maybe even animal faces on the cookies.

Need to wrap some gifts?  My daughter loves the look, feel and sound of wrapping paper.  I lay a big sheet of it on the floor for her to hide under and play with or give her smaller pieces and she wraps "gifts" out of items found around the house.  The present giving and unwrapping game never gets old at our house!  I've learned to somewhat convincingly feign surprise and joy when unwrapping a wooden spoon.

Time to do the dishes?  Set up a station next to you or on the floor with a small bowl of soapy water and a dish towel.  Your child can "wash" plastic toys and safe kitchen items just like mom and dad.  Even small children can dry the unbreakable items.

Need to sweep the floors?  My 3-year-old son is fascinated with brooms and dust pans.  Give them an area to tidy up while you work close by or take turns sweeping and scooping.  Throw in a little "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" ("This is the way we sweep the floors, sweep the floors...") and sing and dance together.

It's faster to get through your to-do list on your own, but it's a much nicer day when fun and games with your child are part of the mix.  You might just find the slower pace and giggles were exactly what you needed. 

Here at kidsongs.com we have spent decades listening to over a thousand children's songs before deciding to go into the studio to record and produce videos of them.  We have to really like them to add them to our catalog.  Here are the best...in our opinion, of course!

To find the best of the best we had to go further.  We looked for more than just a cute, catchy song.  The song had to do more.  It had to capture your child's imagination, play a role in your child's development, be memorable and be a song that everyone likes to sing. 

Here's the list and the reasons why the song made it:

1.)  Old MacDonald Had a Farm:  The simple sing-songy melody is easy for little ones to master, its repetition of both key words (like "quack, quack") and phrases ("and on his farm he had a...") teaches children animal sounds while utilizing memory skills.  Plus, you can add your favorite animals to it and in the words of Simon Cowell, "make it your own".

2.)  The Wheels on the Bus:  A simple structure, catchy melody and ability to add movement to act out the lyrics landed this on the list.  Kids just want to play along with it and it's a favorite for in the car sing alongs. 

3.)  This Old Man:  Rhyming and counting in one fun play along package.  Need we say more?

4.)  Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star:  Is there a nicer way to end the day then singing a simple lullaby to your child?  A lovely melody, images that are easy and calming to visualize and poetic lyrics create a perfect song. 

5.)  Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer:  It was a tough choice between Rudolph and Mary’s famous little lamb. Both songs tell a compelling story that children relate to and are about the special relationship between people and animals. They both stir feelings of empathy, have a little drama and a happy ending. We love both, but Rudolph won “by a nose”.

I'm sure you have your own favorites, so please comment and let us know which songs are the all-time greatest in your household!

Enjoy the rest of summer and the memories that will your family will make together!