Little Folkies

Little Folkies is an early-childhood folk music program where children and families sing, do finger plays, move, dance, and play simple instruments together. Classes focus on live, all-acoustic music and include screen-free musical play and family sing-alongs, with finger play, hand movements, and simple activities for every song.

• Ages: 0–5 years old

Little Folkies is a multi-award-winning early childhood folk music program developed by acclaimed musician Irena Eide, who leads the program’s curriculum. For over a decade, Little Folkies has shared its music curriculum with thousands of children, and they state they have spent over 15 years creating the program. The program’s mission is to offer an alternative to the all-too-digital world by providing play, movement, and real human connection while children are immersed in joyful live, acoustic music. The program encourages everyone to sing with the voice they have and states that it aims to foster musical confidence and foundation, boost brain development, build social skills and confidence, improve coordination, and develop a lifelong love for music.

Little Folkies is described as a multi-award-winning early childhood folk music program, and its music curriculum is featured by Smithsonian Folkways. The program features a four-volume seasonal box set, “Songs for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter,” with original and traditional folk songs for young children, performed on acoustic string instruments with warm, gentle vocals. Each CD in the box set comes with a songbook that includes printed sheet music, and the songs focus on themes like nature, animals, furry critters, outer space, daily routines, and everyday life. The music is recommended for children ages 0–5 and is designed for at-home listening, family sing-alongs, classroom use, and screen-free musical play, with weekly repetition and listening at home to help children learn the songs and participate more in class.

Little Folkies offers trial and drop-in options before enrolling for a full season. The program can provide music for children’s birthday parties, can come to preschools for a special music program, and offers private lessons. Little Folkies also offers a comprehensive teacher training program for musicians who want to bring Little Folkies to their own community, providing live, acoustic music with other kids and families in the neighborhood.

Parent feedback about Little Folkies includes comments that the quality of the music and classroom experience feels outstanding and that families sense the love and expertise that has gone into creating the classes. One parent describes songs becoming a fun and soothing part of their daily routine and notes that their child lights up when seeing the teacher each week. Another parent states that it is a fun place for children to learn, sing, and play and mentions planning to sign up for another season.

Last updated May 17, 2026.