Big tunes for little fans

Kids often worship Kurt Cobain's immortal words: 'Here we are now, entertain us.' Photo / Paul Estcourt

In the fine tradition of top five lists, here are my little Mia's top five songs to dance and have fun to. Because, let's face it, kids quite often worship the immortal words of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain who once said: "Here we are now, entertain us."

No. 5: Vogue - Madonna

So Mia can't do the fancy 'walk like an Egyptian' hand signals that Madonna and her troupe of dancers did in the video, but she gets down to this classic pop song. Knee bending, turning circles, and looking up grinningly, as the Material Girl sings, "Let your body move to the music... you know you can do it."

No. 4: When You Gonna Stop - The Opensouls

This song by the Auckland soul band channels the Supremes and the Temptations in all their catchy and feisty Motown glory.

At this stage Mia's all about knee bending and bouncing along to the beat. But I have yet to teach her the 'stop' hand gesture. So you just wait, she'll be strutting her stuff like the Supremes and dancing in unison with her mum and me in no time.

No. 3: Oma Rapiti

This delightful little Maori song, which I still remember singing in primary school more than 30 years ago, is proof that you can't beat a good old fashioned sing-a-long. And best of all there's no need for an instrument or backing music.

Although, be warned, in the English version you have to pick your moment to break out the verse: "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Goes the farmer's gun."

No. 2: My Propeller - The Arctic Monkeys

Yes, the first song off the Sheffield band's latest album, Humbug, is possibly a little obscure. And even I was a little surprised when we pulled away from daycare the other and she started booting the car seat with moshpit-like vigour as the opening drum beat kicked in. But she loves it, and then lies back and grins as the song eases back to a more gentle and dreamy lope.

No. 1: Hokey Tokey (or Hokey Cokey)

And the No. 1 song to dance and have fun to is, let's sing it together: "You put your left hand in, you put your left hand out..." Ah yes, similar to Oma Rapiti, the Hokey Tokey is further proof you can't beat a sing-a-long.

And for grown ups it's a chance to join in, thrash and throw your whole body about and not feel like an idiot.

Plus, this song is not only about fun. It's ideal to keep your little one's wayward hands and kicking legs under control during nappy changes.

So what are your kid's top five songs to dance and have fun to?

Postscript: I have written about the Wiggles before and felt no need to include any of that band's songs on this list. Besides, for some reason she loves them all.

- Scott Kara

Photo / Paul Estcourt