First 5 Forever – Nursery Rhymes
You are the most important teacher in your child’s life, and they love to hear your singing voice!
Sharing songs or nursery rhymes with your child encourages their abilities to predict language patterns through repetition. These moments of singing rhymes will encourage your child’s abilities to communicate socially and really assist them in learning to read.
Making your own rhymes in conversation at anytime during the day or night (for example, ‘let’s pat the cat’ or ‘see the bee in the tree’) or making a funny poem can spark your child’s imagination and can be such a fun way to learn.
Encourage your child to think of their own rhyming words – this allows them to get creative and also explore sounds as the words are spoken.
Never underestimate the value of the good old nursery rhymes!
Nursery rhymes have patterns, which help children memorise and recall. Rhymes that involve movement (for example, Incy Wincy Spider and My Little Teapot) can assist with a child’s coordination along with learning the words. Rhyming can be used anywhere and at any time and is the most transferable form of play.
Our favourite rhyming books
Oi Frog! – Kes Gray
Cats sit on mats, hares sit on chairs, mules sit on stools and gofers sit on sofas, but Frog does not want to sit on a log! Jam-packed with animals and silliness, this original rhyming story will have young children in fits of laugher.
Macca the Alpaca – Matt Cosgrove
Macca the Alpaca is small, kind and friendly. His days are easy and carefree until he accidentally bumps head-first into Harmer the llama. Harmer is big, unkind and never ever friendly…Can little Macca find a way to teach Harmer a lesson he’ll never forget?
The Magic Hat – Mem Fox
A magic hat tumbles into town, wreaking havoc wherever it lands. Mem Fox has created a charming tale of enchantment and chaos, and the twists and turns in her rhyming text are complemented by fun-filled illustrations from Tricia Tusa.
Why singing and rhyming is so important to children:
- Introduces new words and builds vocabulary
- Develops non-verbal communication skills
- Supports understanding of how words are formed
- Encourages a child to copy actions
- Creates opportunities to become more confident in their learning
- Introduces children to different beats, rhythms, pitches and sounds
You are your child’s most important teacher. It’s never too early to read, talk, sing and play – any time, any day!
First 5 Forever is an initiative of the Queensland Government, coordinated by State Library of Queensland and delivered in partnership with Western Downs Regional Council.