What are the benefits of singing nursery rhymes to your baby or toddler? Even if you’re not a fan of singing, you can still learn some simple nursery rhymes to sing with your child. From language development to social skills, read on for why nursery rhymes have so many benefits for your under five-year-old.
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1. Lovely Language Development
As we said in Songs to Sing To Your Baby, all that repetition is so good for your baby’s development. They’ll learn so much about the rhythms and patterns of language and how it works and sounds. There’s a reason why so many nursery rhymes actually rhyme. Then there’s that beautiful moment when your little one begins to join in with the words, or the rhyming words at the end of each line. This can lead to some funny rhymes, nonsense words, or half-rhymes as your toddler repeats what they think comes next. It’s all in the name of speech and language development! See more on our Instagram post here and check here for baby rhyme time classes near you.
2. Creative Connection With Your Baby Or Child
Increased eye contact, facial expressions and actions are so good for your baby’s overall development. Music and movement together can be so powerful. Check out this mum singing nursery rhymes to her toddler as she pushes them on the swing. Before you know it, five minutes at the park can turn into an hour!
3. Fabulous Fun – The Benefits Of Nursery Rhymes For Under Fives
Nursery rhymes give you another reason to have fun with your baby or toddler. Whether you’re gently rocking to Row Row Your Boat, doing the actions to I’m A Little Teapot, or lifting your little one up in the air to The Grand Old Duke Of York, you’ll find it can actually be quite fun. If you get an ‘Again,again!’ it’s all worth it, right?
Mrs Furryboots’ YouTube channel has a library of over 500 songs you can sing along to, with new songs and playlists added every week. So check it out if you want to join the other 5000 subscribers looking for inspiration.
4. Fantastic Fine Motor Skills
Any song or nursery rhyme which is paired with a hand movement will really help your little ones when it comes to improving their fine motor skills. Whether it’s a nursery rhyme you sign along to, or just do some actions, you’ll find so many baby and toddler classes out there which teach hand movements alongside songs. Improved fine motor skills here we come!
Nursery rhymes are frequently used at baby classes. Not only this, if you regularly attend a baby or toddler class, you’ll meet the same parents and children week on week. Not only will this regular contact with other parents help boost your own mental health, just being around other babies and children will have lots of benefits for your child. They’ll get more used to being in different environments with other children, and may even begin to interact with them. For babies, this can look like something as simple as laying next to another baby, or putting an arm or hand across them. For toddlers, expect some side-by-side play, lots of staring at other toddlers and some interaction or collaboration if the songs involve lifting a parachute or doing actions. With so many classes having ‘favourite’ nursery rhymes, you’ll find it easier to join in the more you go.
6. Numerous Numeracy Skills – The Benefits Of Nursery Rhymes For Under Fives
We’ll bet you can count five nursery rhymes which use counting on the fingers of one hand – 5-4-3-2-1 and go!
Did you get there?
From Five Little Ducks, Ten In The Bed and Five Currant Buns to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Five Little Men in a Flying Saucer, and Ten Green Bottles, nursery rhymes which use counting are classics – and for good reason too! Counting forwards and backwards from one to five, or five to ten, will set your child up well for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and is a skill for life.
7. Soothing Sleep – Benefits Of Nursery Rhymes
Music can help calm down adults and children, and it’s the same for children and toddlers. Lullabies developed as a way of helping babies get to sleep. So singing nursery rhymes can help foster that sense of relaxation, sleepiness and feeling of ‘flow’. You may find yourself entering a more meditative state or even dropping off as well! Sweet dreams, everyone.
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
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