By Emma Thomas – Full-time mum to a one-year-old, part-time blogger and writer, with a background as a Kindy Teacher/Director
I love nursery rhymes and children songs! They are a great way to engage with young children and are so important for brain development. Nursery rhymes are usually short and have a simple tune so that they are easy to learn. Over my years as a teacher I have worked in lots of different places: I have taught Kindy, worked in Long Day Care, run a playgroup and worked overseas. I love hearing the same songs sung all over the place and it’s always special to learn an extra verse to a song.
Humpty Dumpty
My mum used to sing Humpty Dumpty when we were little and would do all the verses!
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
All the King’s horses and all the King’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again!
Poor old Humpty, poor old Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty sat on the ground
Humpty Dumpty looked all around
Gone were the chimneys
Gone were the roofs
All he could see was buckles and hooves!
Poor old Humpty, poor old Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty counted to 10
Humpty Dumpty got up again
All the King’s horses and all the King’s men
Are happy that Humpy’s together again!
Twinkle, Twinkle
I already knew 3 verses to Twinkle, Twinkle but discovered another 2 when I was researching for this post! This is the original from the Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes (2nd edition, 1997).
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Then the traveller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveller in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!
Once I Caught a Fish Alive
When I was working in the UK I heard someone singing an extra verse to Once I Caught a Fish Alive. I made them sing it multiple times throughout the day until I had learnt it.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Once I caught a fish alive
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Then I let it go again
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so!
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on my right.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6
Fishy, fishy no more tricks!
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Biting fingers is no fun.
Row Your Boat
I love Row Your Boat, it’s great fun and a good action song. When I was singing this at playgroup one of the families shared the extra verses with me.
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
If you see a crocodile
Don’t forget to scream
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the river
If you see a polar bear
Don’t forget to shiver
Row, row, row your boat
Gently to the shore
If you see a lion
Don’t forget to ROAR!
Incy Wincy Spider
I have been singing Incy Wincy Spider for years but it was only when I started going along to Rhyme Time at my local library that I discovered Teeny Weeny and Hairy Scary Spider!
Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed poor Incy out
Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain
So, Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the spout again
Teeny Weeny Spider climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed poor Teeny out
Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain
So, Teeny Weeny climbed up the spout again
Hairy Scary climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed poor Hairy out
Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain
So, Hairy Scary climbed up the spout again
Nursery rhymes are so much fun to share with your children and I encourage you to sing some new ones this week!
