Nursery rhymes have been a staple of early childhood education for generations, and for good reason. They are not only fun and engaging for young children, but they also play a crucial role in early childhood development. They enhance language skills, promote literacy, and aid memory retention.
In addition, nursery rhymes help children develop a sense of rhythm, rhyme, and word patterns, which are foundational for reading and writing. They foster social interaction and emotional bonding, as they are often shared in group settings. These activities also support the development of fine motor skills when actions accompany the rhymes.
CELA early education specialist and Education Leader Meg Anastasi tells us that Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is always a favourite at her service, and the children have now learned to sing it in Mandarin.
Meg has noticed that with changes in popular culture, many children are learning less nursery rhymes in the home.
Personally, I love a simple nursery rhyme/finger play and use these most days to gain the attention of a group of children in a calm and engaging way," says Meg. "We generally sing it once with words, and the next without words; relying only on the actions!
Download the nursery rhyme lyrics sheet here.
Here are 6 of the most popular nursery rhymes for preschool and daycare educators
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Why It's Popular
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is a timeless classic that children love for its soothing melody and simple, repetitive lyrics. It's often one of the first songs that children learn, making it a favourite in early childhood settings.
Educational Benefits
This rhyme helps with language development by introducing children to basic vocabulary and concepts like size and brightness. The repetitive nature of the song also supports memory retention and understanding of rhyming patterns.
Lyrics
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
Why It's Popular
"Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" is cherished for its catchy tune and repetitive structure, which makes it easy for young children to learn and sing along. It's a song that often brings comfort and familiarity to children.
Educational Benefits
This rhyme introduces basic counting skills and the concept of sharing, as the sheep distributes wool to the master, dame, and little boy. It also supports early phonemic awareness with its simple, repetitive sounds.
Lyrics
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.
One for the master,
And one for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
The Wheels on the Bus
Why It's Popular
"The Wheels on the Bus" is a perennial favourite due to its interactive nature. Children love singing along while performing the actions that correspond with the different parts of the bus, making it a fun and engaging experience.
Educational Benefits
This rhyme helps develop motor skills as children mimic the actions, such as the wheels going round and round, the doors opening and closing, and the wipers going swish, swish, swish. It also teaches children about different parts of a bus and their functions.
Lyrics
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All day long.
The doors on the bus go open and shut,
Open and shut, open and shut.
The doors on the bus go open and shut,
All day long.
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish.
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,
All day long.
Incy Wincy Spider
Why It's Popular
"Incy Wincy Spider" captivates children with its playful storyline and the hand movements that accompany the song. It's a fun way for children to learn about nature and weather, with a relatable and simple narrative.
Educational Benefits
This rhyme teaches perseverance as the spider repeatedly climbs up the spout, only to be washed down by the rain. It also introduces weather concepts such as rain and sunshine, providing a basic understanding of cause and effect.
Lyrics
Incy Wincy spider climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed poor Incy out.
Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain,
And Incy Wincy spider climbed up the spout again.
Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Why It's Popular
"Old MacDonald Had a Farm" is beloved for its animal sounds and repetitive structure, which children find both entertaining and educational. It's a great way to introduce children to different animals and the sounds they make.
Educational Benefits
This rhyme helps with animal recognition, sound identification, and memory skills. The repetitive "E-I-E-I-O" helps children anticipate and participate in the song, enhancing their engagement and retention.
Lyrics
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O.
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there,
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.
(Continue with more verses for other animals, like pigs, ducks, kangaroos, wombats etc.)
Five Little Ducks
Why It's Popular
"Five Little Ducks" is a favourite for its engaging story and the counting aspect, which naturally draws children in. The song’s narrative of the ducks going over the hill and returning one by one captures children’s attention and imagination.
Educational Benefits
This rhyme supports early maths skills, particularly counting and subtraction. As each duck leaves and returns, children learn to count down from five and understand the concept of one less.
Lyrics
Five little ducks went out one day,
Over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack."
But only four little ducks came back.
(Repeat the verse, counting down until no ducks come back, then sing the final verse.)
Sad mother duck went out one day,
Over the hills and far away.
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack,"
And all of the five little ducks came back.
Here are three of Meg’s favourite nursery rhymes:
Little Mousey Brown
Little Mousey Brown,
Little Mousey Brown,
Where do you go to,
When you go out of town?
Up the hill and down,
Up the hill and down,
To see Mrs. Green Cat
In her pretty little gown.
Little Mousey Brown,
Little Mousey Brown,
Hurry, scurry quickly,
Or the cat will chase you down!
Ten little fingers
I have ten little fingers
And they all belong to me,
I can make them do things,
Would you like to see?
I can shut them up tight,
I can open them wide,
I can put them together,
I can make them all hide.
I can make them jump high,
I can make them jump low,
I can fold them quietly
And hold them just so.
Two tigers/Liang Zhi Lao Hu (sung in English and Mandarin)
Mandarin Version
Liǎng zhī lǎo hǔ, liǎng zhī lǎo hǔ
Pǎo de kuài, pǎo de kuài
Yī zhī méi yǒu yǎn jīng, yī zhī méi yǒu wěi bā
Zhēn qí guài, zhēn qí guài
English Version
Two little tigers, two little tigers
Run so fast, run so fast
One has no eyes, one has no tail
What a sight, what a sight
How to use nursery rhymes in the classroom
Nursery rhymes are versatile tools that can be seamlessly integrated into various parts of the day. Here are some tips for incorporating these popular rhymes into your classroom routine:
- Transitions: Use nursery rhymes as a fun way to transition between activities. For example, "The Wheels on the Bus" can be sung when preparing for a group outing or playtime.
- Circle time: Make nursery rhymes a regular part of circle time to promote group participation and build a sense of community among the children.
- Themes: Incorporate nursery rhymes programming. For example, "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" fits perfectly into a unit on farm animals, while "Incy Wincy Spider" can be used in a unit on insects or weather.
- Props and actions: Enhance the learning experience by using props or actions. For example, finger puppets can bring "Five Little Ducks" to life, and hand motions can make "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" even more engaging.
Need some fresh ideas?
Meg recommends that you ask your families! Many different cultural groups have different nursery rhymes, and building these into your program is a great way to build partnerships and intentionally teach about diversity and difference.
Conclusion
Nursery rhymes are more than just songs; they are powerful tools that support early learning and development in young children. By incorporating these six popular rhymes into your daily routine, you can create a fun and educational environment that nurtures language development, motor skills, and early maths concepts.
What are your favourite nursery rhymes to use in the classroom? Share them in the comments below! Don’t forget to subscribe to our Amplify! blog for more tips and resources for early childhood education.
Lyrics sheet
Download this helpful four page lyrics sheet for the 6 most popular nursery rhymes, plus 3 of Meg's favourites:
Download
Other CELA articles about this topic you might enjoy:
Any time’s a good time for rhythm and rhyme
Four benefits of singing with young children
Are fingerplays becoming a lost art?