Importance of Nursery Rhymes and Songs

Why nursery rhymes and songs are important

Singing nursery rhymes and songs to children as young as babies can help develop their language and communication skills from an early age. There are so many different ways adults can make this type of learning fun, whether this is by using props, music or musical instruments. Creating a fun experience for children will help engage them and they are more likely to sit and participate in the songs. It is important to remember that younger children will only sit for short periods of time so don’t expect them to sit for a half hour song time session.

Singing nursery rhymes can also help develop children’s social skills as it is a great opportunity for children to get to know their peers. Sitting next to one another and holding hands during the song row row your boat is ideal for helping develop those social skills. As children develop at different rates, using nursery rhymes will support children’s communication and language development at whatever stage they are at for example, older children may be beginning to learn to rhyme, whereas younger children may still be at the stage of learning new words.

Introducing children to a variety of nursery rhymes can help them understand and learn about different sounds. This is an important part of developing those early literacy skills. Listening to different sounds in the environment as well as in nursery rhymes provides children with the foundations in helping them to read and write.

As nursery rhymes are fun and full of sounds, children will tune into these sounds. Older children will experiment in combining sounds and blend them together to form a word.

As previously mentioned nursery rhymes and songs have a huge impact on children’s language and communication development. Children relish in listening to songs full of rhyming, rhythm and repetition. By singing songs containing these core elements it is helping boost children’s language, communications and literacy development.

Understanding the full value of nursery rhymes and songs will open up the learning opportunities for children and help create a positive attitude towards language.

So why is singing nursery rhymes and songs important;

• Children learn new words
• Develop their non-verbal communications skills
• Learn early maths skills
• Children understand how words are formed
• Enables children to copy actions
• It boasts children language communication and literacy skills
• Helps develop children’s social, skills
• Children learn about different beats and rhythms
• Provides the opportunity for children to value language and become confident learners.
• Creates a close relationship between adult and child

It is important that adults are confident when singing nursery rhymes and songs as this will be portrayed to the children. If adults are having fun children are more likely to respond.

Adult’s role in singing nursery rhymes and songs;

• Be confident
• Sing songs slowly and clearly
• Use a clear tone
• Use props to support the songs
• Involve children
• Use actions, pictures or widget symbol

Is singing nursery rhymes and songs included in your everyday routine? Singing nursery rhymes doesn’t just have to be during song time why not share a song or two during nappy time or when children are sitting down for lunch. Theses times are ideal in providing children with opportunities to develop their communication and language skills.