Animal Nursery Rhymes and Songs

Nursery rhymes are key to helping children identify phonemes (the individual sounds in words), which is probably why the fifth target in the Ready for Kindergarten program is singing, chanting and rhyming. Parents should be singing and reciting to their children from birth and by the time your child is four years old she should be able to recite 6 to 10 nursery rhymes.

There are a huge number of nursery rhymes out there and with access to the Internet you can pretty much find them all. However, that sheer volume can be overwhelming. So, I'm only introducing a couple of animal songs that my girls like to help you get started. These also have the added advantage of teaching animal sounds and animal habitats.

Old McDonald
Old McDonald had a farm
e i e i o
And on his farm he had a cow
e i e i o
With a moo moo here
And a moo moo there
Here a moo
There a moo
Everywhere a moo moo

The song can be repeated with different animals and sounds substituted for the bold words until you run out of farm animals. Or, as is the case with my younger daughter, you can continually sing about the same animal until your child gets bored.

Bubble, Bubble, Pop
All the little fishes are swimming in the water
Swimming in the water
Swimming in the water
All the little fishes are swimming in the water
Bubble, bubble, bubble. Pop!

This song can also be repeated with different animals substituted for the bold words for example little crabs are walking, green kelp is swaying, blue dolphins are playing...or whatever you and your child can think up. Also during the bubble section of the song you get to create a bubble with your hands gradually growing it bigger with each successive bubble until it pops. My older daughter is very enthusiastic about the popping.

For those of you interested in a more structured nursery rhyme program (that is one that focuses more intently on moving your child into ready) A-Rhyme-A-Week is a nursery rhyme program designed to encourage early literacy. Moreover, if you have access to a printer their website will provide everything you need to follow the program.

Enjoy singing with your children. As my girls should be waking from their naps at any moment I shall be doing the same.