This is a helpful little article on choosing songs for children.
The criteria they list are:
1. Biblically accurate
2. Gospel centered
3. Musically excellent
4. Accessible
5. Age-appropriate
6. Liturgically diverse
7. Fun!
For those who may not lean toward the “liturgical” side of things, thinking thematically (going over different themes at different times) would be a helpful replacement.
I’ve posted a new song by Kevin Hartnett, my wife, and myself titled “He Rose to Set Us Free.” It’s a children’s song for Easter.
Audio and sheet music download
VERSE 1
Let joyful songs of thankfulness
Fill every heart today!
For God, in love, devised a plan
To take our sins away!
CHORUS
He rose up from the grave that day,
He rose for all to see!
He died to take the sinner’s place,
He rose to set us free!
VERSE 2
To pay for sins, men had to die,
Our sinless God had said,
But he sent down His perfect Son
To take our place instead.
VERSE 3
It was a most amazing plan
That Christ should die for me;
And to declare God’s work complete
He rose to life again!
By Ken and Rachael Boer and Kevin Hartnett. Copyright (c) 2007 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Ministries. All rights reserved.
Junko has a simple children’s song titled “Enjoy You Forever” which states the purpose for which we live:
VERSE
Holy God
The great I Am
Our lives are in Your hands
You give us grace
For all our days
You are the reason we live
CHORUS
To love You
To glorify You
And to enjoy You forever
To love You
To glorify You
And to enjoy You forever
The chorus melody is very nice; the verse ends on a note or two I wasn’t expecting. This song would be excellent for children’s ministry or a children’s choir.
I’ve posted a new song, titled “Are You Looking for the Savior,” which I wrote with my friend Kevin Hartnett. It tells the story of Simeon and Anna, and asks whether we are looking for the Savior with eager expectation, as they were.
You can get the audio and sheet music at the song’s permanent page.
VERSE 1
Old Simeon would wake each day
To think about the Lord.
He knew that God had promised that
Their land would be restored.
The Spirit also made a wondrous guarantee:
That he would surely live until
The promised Christ he’d see.
CHORUS
Are you looking for the Savior?
Do you know Him – the Promised One?
All of hist’ry points to Jesus
He is God’s redeeming Son
VERSE 2
Sweet Anna worshipped God as well
Within the temple there.
She sought to know His heart and mind
By fasting and through prayer.
And when she saw the child
Began to sing His praise,
For God provided Jesus to
Redeem the nation’s ways.
VERSE 3
Let every heart now look to God
To see what He has done:
His promise of a Savior was
Fulfilled by His own Son.
The name of Jesus Christ
Be joy to every ear!
The sinless Son laid down His life
So sinners can draw near.
ALTERNATE VERSE 3 (FOR ADVENT)
Do you then think of God like this
Or long to know His will?
Do you commit to fast and pray
His purpose to fulfill?
O let us sing His praise
And speak of what He’s done -
To save a world enslaved in sin
God gave His precious Son
Copyright (c) 2007 Ken Boer and Kevin Hartnett