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Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Quick Answer

A famous sing-along where Old MacDonald names animals on his farm and everyone makes the sounds together. A classic call-and-response song for giggles, learning, and rhythm.

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

It’s interactive and comforting—especially for toddlers who like predictability. For bedtime, slow the tempo and choose just a few animals to keep it calming.

Story at a Glance

RECOMMENDED AGES

1-6 years

READING TIME

2 min

THEMES
comfortingeasy to understandeasy to understandgentlegentlecomfortingclassic taleclassic tale
Also available inEspañol

Story Synopsis

“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” is one of the best-known children’s songs. Each verse introduces an animal—cows, ducks, pigs, dogs, sheep—and repeats a friendly pattern: “E-I-E-I-O” plus the animal sound in different places. Kids love joining in with the noises, and the repetition helps them anticipate what comes next. At bedtime, you can turn this energetic song into a calmer ritual by lowering your voice and limiting the verses. Pick two or three favorite animals, make the sounds gently, and let the repeated structure feel like a cozy loop that winds down toward sleep.

Story Excerpt

Old Macdonald had a farm, E - I - E - I - O And on his farm he had some cows, E - I - E - I - O With a " moo - moo " here and a " moo - moo " there Here a " moo " there a " moo " Everywhere a " moo - moo " Old Macdonald had a farm, E - I - E - I - O. Old Macdonald had a farm, E - I - E - I - O And on his farm he had some ducks, E - I - E - I - O With a " quack,…

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In One Glance

“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” is a repetitive sing-along that names farm animals and repeats their sounds in a predictable pattern. It supports early language play and memory through call-and-response. Read or sung softly with fewer verses, it can be a gentle bedtime routine for young children.

Frequently Asked Questions

A sing-along where a farmer names animals and everyone repeats their sounds.

No—it's cheerful and safe.

Ages 1–6.

Choose 2–3 animals and sing them slowly and softly to keep the mood calm.