Dance Music for Children

How about some older, but fun, music?

You Can't Touch This, MC Hammer
YMCA, Village People
Shout, Isley Brothers

Cotton Eye Joe! It's a classic and kids love it!

Macarena, the Chicken Dance, Katy Perry songs. The DJ should have "clean" versions of most popular songs.

Party Rockers, Sexy and I know it, and Gangnam Style all have lyrics that are not really appropriate for a 5 year old. So be sure your DJ knows what they are and can bleep if needed. Be sure that the version of Party Rockers is the radio edit.

Wow, really, "Sexy and I Know It" for a 5 year old?

ETA: From your SWH, that is refreshing! How about some of the Kidz Rock songs? They do great versions. My 6 year old loves the Taylor Swift song, "We are never, ever, ever getting back together."

My daughter has the Shake It Up: Break It Down cd from the tv show. I don't remember any questionable lyrics and all of my kids from 3 to 8 years old like dancing to it. I think they have a second cd for the show now but I haven't heard that one yet. You could look up the track lists for them.

The lyrics of the songs you've already listed don't bother me (when they can understand the words, they don't know the meaning) but make sure you're not going to freak the other parents out.

I'm sorry, but Sexy and I Know it is NOT appropriate. Even though a 5 year old does not understand what "sexy" means, it is not ok for he/she to be saying they are "sexy, and I know it." Even if words are bleeped, some kids obviously know the lyrics and will be singing them. I would be upset if I went to a 5 year old birthday party and these songs were being played.
I would find upbeat childrens' songs are oldies. The kids will just be thrilled that there is a dj. Why take a chance of upsetting other families with inappropriate songs?

From many of the song selections you have chosen my child and I would be leaving the festivities to be honest. Even the "clean" versions are not needed. If it is the music you are after vs the words then find some plain house music to play. House/Electronica - like Harlem Shake has a good dance beat - no words to deal with and the songs are often longer.

In addition there are pleanty of good songs that can be played - heck genres even - most Funk music is perfect for the kids, Disco, and bubblegum pop like Tiffany or Debbie Gibson or early Whitney Houston (Dance with Somebody anyone?)

What about 1950s hits such as Rock Around the Clock, Blue Moon, etc? Those songs were intended for dancing, and they don't have the questionable side to them. They Might be Giants, Village People, disco. and The Chicken Dance would be great too. As someone else pointed out, you will want to consider the parents' comfort level, regardless of whether the kids can understand the lyrics now.

Why not use upbeat kids' music? Chou Chou Soul, Imagination Movers, the singers from Jake and the Neverland Pirates, They Might Be Giants....Go to Pandora and you'll find a ton of appropriate, and palatable kids music for a party.

I have also used Celebration by Kool and the Gang. http://www.youtube.com/v/3GwjfUFyY6M

I like a lot of music but I do not like my 4 yr old daughter singing "Hey, sexy ladies!" or "I'm sexy and I know it."

Please go over each song specifically with the DJ. Just because it's on a kiddie version album doesn't always mean it's a "good" version.

I answered your newest question regarding this. Both my LOs love Party Rock, Sexy and I know it and of course Gangnam style. I don't understand why "sexy" is an issue as my youngest doesn't even know what that means and my oldest is exposed to the song - especially that part of it, from the kids at school. We tell her "she's cute, and she knows it" and explain that "sexy" is a grown up word. It's not like you are telling your child to be "Sexy" just because the song has "sexy" in it. Heck, almost every song has some sexual innuendo unless it's a kids song or Gospel/Christian music =)

BTW - In the 50's, the phrase "rock and roll" was slang term for having sex.

some have already said this, but I have to reiterate:
Macarena, chicken dance, mc hammer, YMCA, Tricky (I don't know all the lyrics, but I have it on a running mix and my 6 yo and I were jamming out to it yesterday in the car)
Shake it up - great idea or any of the "teen Disney" show songs (Austin & alley, shake it up, Jessie, etc)
Have fun.

Thrift Shop and the new Maclamore (spelling?) song Hands In The Air (I think), Icono Pop's new hit (can't remember the name, I drove my car into a bridge and I don't care . . .), the Harlem Shake song - they played at our carnival last weekend and the kids were hilarious dancing to it, they loved it! Just make sure they are the clean versions, Thrift Shop is pretty bad if you don't play the radio version.

I'm horrible with song names but those above are a few of my boys faves.