Why teach children singing games?

Singing connected with movements and action is a much more ancient, and, at the same time, more complex phenomenon than is a simple song. 
~Zoltan Kodaly, ethnomusicologist

Singing games:
Activate
Engage emotion
Build vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency
Foster play-acting of social behaviors

However much children may need looking after, they are also people going about their own business within their own society.
~ Iona and Peter Opie , exper,

VIDEOS OF SINGING GAMES

  Aiken Drum; little ones singing; in concert.
Al Citron
Alabama Gal (starts at 1:43 minutes); another version; another
All Around the Mulberry Bush
Apple on a Stick
The Banana Song
Bim Bum
Boom Chicka Boom
Bought Me a Cat
Bow, Wow, Wow
Circle 'Round the Zero; adults
Cup Passing Game; another;  Directions with I've Been to Harlem; directions.
Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky
Down, Down, Baby (30 sec into tape); dad with baby; instructions. 
Draw Me a Bucket of Water; another version; another.; another
Dum, Dum Dada
The Farmer in the Dell
Five Little Monkeys; child alone.
Four White Horses
Frog in the Meadow.
Great Big House
Head and Shoulders, Baby, another version; another
Here We Are Together
Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush
I Let Her Go Go
If You're Happy And You Know It
I've Been to Harlem
John Kanaka. sailors' version. French men's version
Little Bird; pictures of birds
Little Sally Walker; another
Lucy Locket
Miss Mary Mack; variation; classroom
Obo-shi-notten-totten; Swiss children variation 
Oats, Peas, Beans; as a mixer with a whole school.
Ob-wi-sini-san; Ghanaian passing game; Kuraya Kuraya
Old Brass Wagon (choir); whole school
Paw Paw Patch
Pizza, Pizza, Daddy-O (at end of tape); variation
Punchinella
Ride that Pony; variation; variation
Rig-a-jig-jig
Rockin' Robin
'Simmons
Skip to My Lou
There Was an Old Lady
This a Way, Valerie and variations: Zoodio, Step Back, Sally, Step Back, Sally
Tideo; another version; dance.
We Are Dancing in the Forest
Wheels on the Bus; animated
When I First Came to this Land; with photos.
Who Stole My Chickens and my Hens?; 3 motions
Who Stole the Cookie? and Who Stole the Cookie to learn English
Ziggy Zah; another version


RESOURCES

AMERICAN SONG
http://amso.alexanderstreet.com/
An amazing history database that allows people to hear and feel the music from America's past.
Includes songs by and about American Indians, miners, immigrants, slaves, children, pioneers, and cowboys.

CHILDREN'S MUSIC NETWORK
http://www.cmnonline.org/index.htm
An organization dedicated to children's music making.  Songs galore!

AMERICAN FOLK SONG COLLECTION
http://kodaly.hnu.edu/
Holy Names University
Over 300 songs and games with recordings

EDUCATIONAL CYBER PLAYGROUND
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/NCFR/NCFR.html
National Children's Folksong Repository

MAMA LISA'S WORLD
http://www.mamalisa.com/index.html
Songs and rhymes from around the world

NIEHS KIDS' PAGES
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/music.htm 
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Sing-Along songs for health and well-being

POPULAR SONGS IN AMERICAN HISTORY
http://www.contemplator.com/america/
Recordings of folk song melodies with the lyrics

SCOUT SONGS
http://www.scoutsongs.com/categories/patriotic-songs.html
Recordings with lyrics

SING UP SONG BANK
http://www.singup.org/songbank/song-bank/
England's respository of songs, materials, lesson plans, and other aids for classroom teachers.