Time to Rhyme pt. 1
Do you remember your favorite childhood nursery rhyme? Chances are, children these days know it too! Nursery Rhymes are a wonderful addition to our culture passed down through the generations. Not only are they a beautiful way to connect with your child, they also help foster the beginnings of language development and understanding. I use nursery rhymes with my youngest students to my oldest - here are some ideas for you to try out with your littlest ones, a future post will explore ideas for older students.
18 Months to 3 years:
Itsy Bitsy Spider: the gestures for Itsy Bitsy change from person to person, so feel free to use whatever gestures you are familiar with, but instead of our daring itsy bitsy spider climbing up the water spout at the end of the rhyme, change the line instead to "and the itsy bitsy spider...he tickles your toes!" and obviously, tickle baby's toes. Repeat the rhyme two or three times, building the suspense towards tickling each time. Baby's start to expect the tickling and it becomes quite a fun game.
Hickory Dickory Dock:
In this version by Anne Green Gilbert, baby can sit in your lap or in front of you while gesturing the italicized words - e.g. TAP, BRUSH or SQUISH up baby's body, or if baby has started to follow gestures let them do so on their own.
"Hickory Dickory Dock (HDD) The mouse SQUEEZED up the clock the clock struck one the mouse ran down, Hickory Dickory Dock.
HDD the mouse TAPPED up the clock the clock struck two the mouse and phew! Hickory Dickory Dock.
HDD the mouse CLAPPED up the clock
the clock struck three the mouse said whee! Hickory Dickory Dock.
HDD the mouse BRUSHED up the clock the clock struck four the mouse said 'no more!" Hickory Dickory Dock"
Humpty Dumpty:
My students LOVE this one! begin by seeing a tiny tiny egg on the floor in front of you "Oh! Look at this tiny egg! Can you pick it up? It's so teeeeeny!" and then begin the rhyme in your teeniest voice:
"Humpty dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a GRRREEAAAAT fall!"
Arms go up and then down to the floor to signify just how big the fall is!
and then VERY QUICKLY say while rocking back and forth with your teeny egg:
"All the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put Humpty together again!"
then three robot moves! These feel silly at first, but once the kiddies catch on it becomes a fun unifying moment.
THEN you see a medium sized egg and repeat the rhyme in your medium sized voice. Then you see a HUUUUGGGEEE egg, and repeat the rhyme in your big deep sized voice. I like to emphasize how heavy and difficult the egg is to lift. End with four robot moves instead of three, with the last being a final drop on your lap.
Here are videos for Humpty Dumpty and Hickory Dickory, perfect for you and baby to use at home!
Humpty Dumpty:
Hickory Dickory Dock:
Have fun rhyming with your kiddos!
KB
