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| The value of nursery rhymes |
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Nursery rhymes have been a much-loved part of childhood for generations. The poems and stories they share date back to centuries passed: Old King Cole, may refer to an ancient Welsh king who drowned in a swamp 1700 years ago; Ring-a-Ring-a-Roses may refer to the Black Death of the 1300s; and Mary Mary Quite Contrary could be referring to a Queen beheaded for her Catholic faith, or Mary Queen of Scots.
Though the stories have morphed as years have passed, and many weren't originally intended for children, these rhymes have become an intrinsic part of the younger years. And despite many of the stories being largely nonsensical in life today, nursery rhymes still have an important part to play in early childhood.
Cognitive development
Nursery rhymes are structured in patterns, making them simple to memorise and repeat. These patterns help to form the basis of basic maths skills and build memory capabilities, and as the perfect first story they follow a clear sequence of events – with a beginning, middle and end – in a compact form. Many nursery rhymes also include numbers and counting, such as 'One, Two Three Four Five…'.
Nursery rhymes also open the door to creativity and imagination – acting out rhymes and forming mental images of the characters in the tale. They take a child into a fantasy world where brown paper and vinegar is used to heal a cracked head or blackbirds are in pies!
Language development
Nursery rhymes are often a child's first experience of language, and being easy to repeat, they often become some of a child's first sentences. The repetition teaches how language works and the lyrical nature exposes them to early phonic skills, giving them practice in pitch, volume, inflection, and the rhythm of language. Listening to nursery rhymes builds vocabulary, exposing children to words they might not come across in everyday language, as well as strengthening the skill of being able to hear sounds in words.
Nursery rhymes are a great learning source in early literacy and contain many sophisticated literary devices: onomatopoeia in 'Baa Baa Black Sheep', alliteration in Hickory Dickory Dock, and of course they are full of rhyming such as 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor'. Being one of the earliest forms of poetry, listening to nursery rhymes also sets them up to appreciate and understand poetical forms, as they progress into the school curriculum.
Nursery rhymes also open the door for a love of books, sparking an interest in reading that regular stories don't always provide.
Social development
Nursery rhymes preserve a culture that spans centuries, connecting parents, grandparents and children through traditional stories, and connecting us to the past. They also provide a great history lesson: Jack and Jill lived in a time before indoor plumbing, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick', is from a day before electric lights.
Nursery rhymes with actions, such as Incy Wincy Spider, develop fine motor skills and coordination. And singing nursery rhymes together can promote a sense of community and build social skills – children bond over a shared story and participating in a group activity.
The way the endings often don't make sense or are unexpected also appeals to children, with rhymes such as 'Pop goes the weasel' or ‘Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear', always sparking laughter. But most of all, nursery rhymes are just plain fun! Though kids might not know what 'Pease porridge' is or why a cow might jump over the moon, these silly stories, and lyrical rhymes have delighted children for 500 years and will continue to do so for many more.
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