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Special Education Blog

Feb 23, 2010

Posted in: Blog

Simple rhyming and rhyming songs have been found to be an important early reading skill and a perfect way to have fun with preschool children. I think back to my younger days, quite a long time ago, and learning all the nursery rhymes and silly songs. I remember teaching them to my daughters when they were young. Some of the old nursery rhymes didn’t always make sense, but we had fun playing with the words.

Rhyming actually helps children become more aware of the different sounds, such as fat cat, best nest, bug on a rug, or bow wow.  How could you not smile when you say the words “Hey Diddle Diddle?” I still look to they skies and recite Star light, Star Bright.  Ten Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed is sure to bring giggles to children who gather in bed in the morning.

Rhyming also goes hand in hand with creative play and exaggerated movements. Children learn to listen to the words and anticipate what comes next as they move to the words. “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” creates an image of children bending forward to touch their shoes. Jack and Jill work hard to make it up that hill, and Humpty Dumpty is not very steady on that wall.

Rhyming also helps with memory and forming pictures in your mind. Can you picture a cradle in a tree top or Jack jumping over that candle stick? The early nursery rhymes are often pictured in a child’s first book and children can memorize these simple stories because of the rhyming patterns of the words.

So have some fun learning the old nursery rhymes, playing rhyming games and singing silly songs. The benefits are long last and sure to bring out the smiles.

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