What public domain means for your room
A song in the public domain belongs to everyone: you may print its words on a family note, sing it, and change a verse. Traditional rhymes like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Old MacDonald” have been sung for well over a century.
In the United States, works published in 1930 or earlier are in the public domain as of 2026. A song written later may still be under copyright even if every child knows it.
Where the planner's songs come from
Each theme's song is from one of three Peabody lists, each with the words written out: nursery rhymes with lyrics, lullabies with lyrics, and clapping and hand-game rhymes. The lists print words only for public-domain songs and say who wrote each one where that is known.
A few favorites, like the 1939 version of “The Wheels on the Bus”, appear on the lists without their words, because the copyright status of that version is unclear. The planner never uses those.
Making an old song yours
- Sing it every day of the week; on Friday, sing it for the families at pickup.
- Add actions: clap for “Pat-a-Cake”, row for “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”.
- Hang the words by the door so a parent can hum along.