Nursery Rhymes

Poems and rhymes are nostalgic memories for all of us. Infants love lullabies as they find them soothing. The gentle words and tune in rhyming words interests them and they love the reassuring tune in the nursery rhymes. This is the best form of entertainment for children and an intelligent tool to teach them the simple things in life.

Nursery rhymes help to increase the vocabulary of the child. After the age of one, kids love repetition and that is their way of building confidence in understanding the subject.

For parents, this is their second revision of learning nursery rhymes. ‘Twinkle Twinkle little star’ and ‘Chubby Cheeks’ has much been forgotten by us in the daily hustle bustle of urban life and hence the second innings at narration to your kids is a rejuvenating experience.

Just as there is change in all of walks of life, nursery rhymes are also getting replaced by newer and bolder themes. The ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ and ‘Johnny Johnny Yes Papa’ are fading away in most prep schools with new incorporations like ‘Two Twin Aeroplanes’ and ‘Miss Molly Had a Dolly’. The basic idea is to also keep the child abreast of latest happenings. Newer words are getting used these days as there is more exposure for a kid than their parents had when they were toddlers.

If you need to refresh your reciting skills then make plenty of time. Finish all your chores or reschedule them when you narrate the rhyme. It is not fair if you expect your child to repeat the lines with a few narration. More often children may not be receptive due to distraction or simply because they may be not in a mood too. Encourage gibberish and use all sorts of animation. Clown around and dance. Make your own tune as eventually they will follow their teachers in school.

Counting is easily taught by way of rhymes. ‘One Two buckle my shoe’ and ‘Five little Ducks’ are so interesting that it is surprising, how children pick up counting easily after understanding the concept. Similar trick is to teach additions and subtractions. Mundane way of teaching opposites and math can easily be transformed into fun activities by way of rhymes.

Colours of the rainbow, nature concepts, shapes and sizes all are possible with nursery rhymes. Teach them about community helpers like the vegetable vendor and Postman and the enthusiasm and zeal in the child will further pep you to get more creative with hand gestures and facial expressions.

If you have tried all the tricks to get your infant baby to sleep, then create an atmosphere conducive to sleep and sing away, ‘Rock a bye Baby………Cradle and all’. Singing lullabies is a good stress buster for parents too.