nursery rhyme time

When I first had B, looking for ways to connect with my baby, I thought of nursery rhymes, fingerplays and songs.  But I felt a bit uncomfortable.  My repertoire of rhymes was pretty limited and I didn’t really know how to make them entertaining for my baby. 

That all changed when I discovered nursery rhyme time at my local library.  There, I learnt how to engage with my baby in songs, rhymes and stories.


The Benefits of Sharing Songs and Rhymes with Your Child
There are many benefits of sharing songs and rhymes with babies and young children …

• it is an enjoyable way to spend time with your child and reinforces your connection with your child.
• it aids in children’s language development.  For example, rhyme and rhythm help children to distinguish and learn words.  Later, being able to detect rhyming words and pick out sounds in words is important in learning to read.
• joining in with action songs and rhymes develops your child’s co-ordination and motor skills.
• songs and rhymes are a great way to distract and soothe children.  You can use them when changing nappies, on a long drive, when  you want to transition from one activity to another and at many other sticky moments.
• it is fun!

Inspiration for Sharing Songs and Rhymes with Your Child

• use actions or make up your own actions.  For example, bounce baby on your knee as you say the rhyme.
• use different voices and volumes when saying rhymes.
• add instruments
• change the words of rhymes to match what you are doing, or your child’s interests.  Change names in rhymes and use your child’s name. 

Most importantly make it fun and make time daily to enjoy songs and rhymes.

Where to Find New Songs and Rhymes

• go to a library storytime
• get some chant, song or rhyme books
• watch the Wiggles or Playschool
• I’ve shared some of my favourite fingerplays and our latest favourite action song on the blog.

This post was inspired by this CD

which was kindly sent to me by the Victorian State Library and is part of the State Library of Victoria Young Reader’s Program.  If you live in Victoria this CD is available in all public libraries, providing inspiration, ideas and techniques for bringing poems, songs and storytimes into daily play.

What are your child’s favourite songs and rhymes?