Happy Singing Kids

Kindy Uplift Reading Through Singing

A joyful music and literacy program designed for the Kindy Uplift initiative

Give your kindy children a head start in literacy and learning through the power of music, movement, and storytelling with Kindy Uplift: Reading Through Singing—a curriculum-aligned incursion led by children’s author and award-winning musician Susie O’Leary (Happy Singing Kids).

This engaging, interactive performance and workshop series has been developed specifically to meet Kindy Uplift priority areas including:

• Oral language and early literacy development
• Social and emotional wellbeing
• Physicality and motor coordination
• Culturally inclusive, responsive practice

Children join in through original songs, rhythmic story reading, and movement-based learning, including Susie’s popular bookUh Oh Spaghetti-oh!, which features a built-in singalong and has been featured on ABC Kids Listen. The program promotes phonological awareness, expressive language, confidence, and joy in a safe and inclusive environment.

👩‍🏫 Kindy Uplift PD Using Music to Build Literacy, Language & Joy in the Early Years

A practical, joyful professional development session with Susie O’Leary

Empower your educators with practical tools, creative inspiration, and curriculum-aligned strategies to uplift children’s literacy and language outcomes—through the power of music and movement.

Led by Susie O’Leary—a published children’s author, award-winning children’s songwriter, and creator ofHappy Singing Kids—this professional development workshop is designed specifically for early childhood teamsworking within the Kindy Uplift framework.

🎵 What’s included:

• Practical music-based literacy strategiesLearn how rhythm, melody, and repetition can strengthen phonological awareness, oral language, vocabulary development, and early reading skills.
• Movement-based learning and brain–body connectionsExplore how whole-body engagement (action songs, movement games, dramatic play) enhances memory, coordination, and executive function—vital for preparing children to read, write, and self-regulate.
• Songs and activities to take away and use immediatelySusie shares original songs, printable lyrics, book pairings, and creative storytelling prompts that can be easily adapted into group time, transitions, or daily routines.
• Inclusive and culturally responsive practiceStrategies to make your learning environment more inclusive and engaging for children of all backgrounds and abilities—including neurodiverse learners and children with emerging speech/language needs.

📚 Uh Oh Spaghetti-oh! A joyful music-and-literacy resource for children aged 3–5

Uh Oh Spaghetti-oh! is a vibrant, sing-along picture book designed to support the learning and development of children aged 3 to 5, aligning perfectly with the goals of the Kindy Uplift program.

Created by Australian musician, author, and performer Susie O’Leary, this resource combines music, movement, and storytelling to help children build foundational literacy and emotional skills—while having fun!

Each book includes a QR code linking to the original song, allowing children to sing along or listen as the story is performed—buildingoral language, rhythm, vocabulary, and phonological awareness in a joyful, accessible way.

🎯 Why it works for 3–5 year olds:

• Builds early literacy skills through rhyme, repetition, and song
• Strengthens oral language and expressive communication
• Supports social and emotional learning, with themes of resilience and bouncing back
• Encourages participation, even from shy or developing speakers
• Adaptable for group time, story time, or transition activities