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For generations, kids have enjoyed listening to or singing the nursery rhymes. The comforting rhythm of these rhymes enables them to recognize and be familiar with the verses at a very early age. It creates anticipation among them as to what is the next sound or word or action. Later on, they will be able to grasp the words and join as you teach them repeatedly.
You will find that most of the traditional nursery rhymes have irrelevant meanings, and some are quite meaningless in the present age. However, these rhymes still live on from generation to generation, whereas some are purely educational as they instruct the kids to count numbers and enhance their vocabulary skills. Let’s find out how important it is to learn these nursery rhymes at a very young age.
Importance Of Nursery Rhymes
Nursery rhymes are important for kids as they develop an understanding of the language. The rhythm and rhyme help them to understand the syllables and the sounds that are present in words, which later enables them to learn how to read quickly. It’s one of the best resources for instructing the young ones with concepts and skills that are essential for day to day learning.
Image credit: BBC
Let’s have a look at the importance that these nursery rhymes carry.
– Develop reading skills:
Nursery rhymes are an incredible tool for kids who are starting to read as they contain short stories. Rhymes also help develop phonics skills by allowing you to read and figure out the sounds of letters. The presence of the rhyming words helps the kids to identify the correct sound. Due to the presence of the repetition and the rhythm it carries, it’s easier to register in the memory. Moreover, memory skills play a huge role in enhancing reading skills.
– Enhances communication and English language skills:
As kids repeatedly listen to nursery rhymes, they become familiar with new phrases and words. The vocabulary will be quickly picked up by these toddlers due to the repetitive nature of these rhymes. Since the rhymes are mostly read aloud, kids will be able to hear how they sound. This will enable them to practice pronunciation without having to memorize the words directly.
As they recite the rhymes, the little ones can practice speaking clearly. You can also instruct them how the language variations occur, such as inflection, pitch, rhythm, and volume, to alter the meaning of different words.
– Improves the creative writing skills:
These rhymes are easier for children to understand as they are structured similar to a short story. They mostly contain a sequence of events and has a main character with interesting situations or scenes. It also makes use of literary devices like onomatopoeia and alliteration. This helps them to apply it to their writing.
– Boosts imagination:
Nursery rhymes come with fantastic characters or storylines that are quite elaborate. This enables children to imagine things more elaborately. Their imagination soars higher when the nursery rhymes are further combined with creative visualization that includes actions or illustrations.
– Introduces Maths concepts:
Rhymes usually contain patterns that are present in speech and language. By understanding these language patterns, kids will be able to recognize the pattern that is present in numerical. This will enable them to solve mathematical problems quickly. Some nursery rhymes have numbers in their content. For instance, rhymes like Hot cross buns and One, two, three, four, five, help the little one learns to count, Subtraction, and addition.
– Improves physical development:
It provides incredible themes for tiny tots to act out and display physical movements to portray the characters and events present in the rhymes. Using their bodies to express each of these words enables the kids to make use of their senses. It also promotes their hand and eye coordination.
– Increments confidence:
Since the lines are mostly silly and are for fun purposes, kids tend to find them entertaining. This takes the pressure away from the learning elements and learning now becomes the bi product of their fun and enjoyment. Since it is easy to memorize, children keep reciting them, thereby boosting their confidence in speaking.
– Advances emotional and social development:
It allows the tiny tots to identify their feelings and moods. You will find that funny rhymes help them to laugh. As for ones with a sad storyline, it opens their minds to the world of emotions, creating empathy. Since individuals develop emotional connections with the rhymes, children can use these rhymes for bonding with others.
– Prepares for advanced level of learning:
You will notice that nursery rhymes play a vital role in introducing poetry into children. This will lay the foundation for understanding English literature and GCSE language, where their ability to analyze and understand poems is evaluated.
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How Is Nursery Rhymes Beneficial For Kids?
Nursery rhymes come with immense benefits for your toddler. This is because they not only contain Melody-filled words for pacifying your kid, but they are also educational and informative. Here are some of the benefits associated with nursery rhymes.
– Cognitive development:
Repeating the rhymes is beneficial for the brain as it helps build memory and understand how the English language works. It also assists in understanding the inferencing skills as they encounter new words.
– Auditory skills:
Listening to rhymes helps in developing auditory skills among children. They will be able to discriminate the different sounds and have a taste for music. It also enables them to articulate the words, find out the various voices, and enunciate them without any fear of facing criticism. They will also be able to develop their tongue and mouth muscles as they speak loudly. Since listening is a foundational skill, nursery rhymes will enable us to develop this crucial capability.
– Understanding History:
These classic rhymes help in preserving culture and offer a connection between multiple generations. It’s a great way of bonding little ones with their grandparents. Moreover, it enables the children to connect with their past.
List Of Nursery Rhymes
Is there any particular criteria to look for in the best nursery rhyme? Well, the significant aspect of the rhymes is that the little one should be able to catch on to the lyrics and melody. Here are some of the famous nursery rhymes that kids thoroughly enjoy.
- – Twinkle, twinkle little star.
- – Mary Had a Little Lamb.
- – London Bridge is Falling Down.
- – I’m a Little Teapot.
- – Hey, diddle diddle.
- – Humpty Dumpty.
- – One, two, three, four.
- – Baa Baa black sheep.
- – Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
- – Hickory Dickory dock.
- – Wheels on The Bus.
- – Ring-a-ring o’ roses.
- – Jack and Jill.
- – Polly put the kettle on.
- – Sing a song of sixpence.
Wrap Up
These nursery rhymes are just a few of the popular ones that have been entertaining the kids for generations. Sing these along with your tiny tots and enjoy quality time with them during the process.
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