The Magic of Nursery Rhymes in Children's Speech & Language Development

When it comes to laying the foundation for reading, nursery rhymes are a timeless and powerful tool. 🎵✨ You might be surprised to learn that those catchy little rhymes your child loves (or maybe sings over and over and over and…..) can actually make a big impact on their ability to read and spell! That’s right—nursery rhymes are not just cute and fun; they’re a crucial part of early literacy development! Let’s chat:

What Are Nursery Rhymes?

Nursery rhymes are short, traditional poems or songs often recited or sung to young children. They typically feature rhythmic and repetitive patterns, which make them easy to remember and recite. Think of the classics like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” “Humpty Dumpty,” and “Jack and Jill.” These simple verses have been delighting children for centuries, some evem dating back to the 18th century.

Historically, nursery rhymes have roots in folklore and oral traditions. They were passed down through generations and often served as educational tools, helping children learn language and rhythm in a playful way. Over the years, nursery rhymes have evolved, with modern additions like “Baby Shark” and “5 Little Ducks” joining the classic repertoire. Some favorites in our household are “Wheels on the Bus” and “Old MacDonald”. From the time both of my boys were just a few months old, singing “Wheels on the Bus” could stop their crying in an instant. One of the first gestures my youngest son made was the “beep beep beep” motion when singing this song!

When you stop to think about what nursery rhymes you know, I’m sure a few pop into your head quickly. If those same 3-4 rhymes get too mundane at your house, here’s a list of both classic and modern Nursery Rhymes you can print off and keep in your child’s play area. Having these quick handouts ready helps to spark imagination and language on the spot. I know for me, I get so busy as a parent and start to forget to take time for teaching new language, so having reminders like these signs in our play room is a huge help for me! Get the handouts here

The Research Behind Nursery Rhymes

Here’s a fun fact:

"Research by literacy and child development experts found that children who can recite at least eight nursery rhymes by age four tend to be among the best readers and spellers by third grade. 📚✨ “

This statistic always stops me in my tracks a bit. You mean my 3 year old singing 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed over and over and over while he jumps on and off the couch will actually translate to him leading his 3rd grade class for reading skills?! Sign me up! This research really emphasizes the significant role nursery rhymes play in building early literacy skills. Let’s break down what specific skills nursery rhymes can encourage in your child’s development.

How Nursery Rhymes Benefit Your Child

1. Improves Recall and Memorization Skills
   Reciting nursery rhymes helps children practice memory skills as they recall and recite verses. The repetitive nature of rhymes makes memorization easier and more engaging. This skill will help guide them well past their young childhood days and into their academic careers. Throughout K-12, they will need to memorize and recall passages and information and this practice learning rhythmic phrases will play a big role in that formation.

2. Builds the Foundation for Reading
   Nursery rhymes introduce children to the rhythm and melody of language, which helps them recognize patterns and sounds in words. This phonological awareness is a crucial precursor to reading. Nursery rhymes also follow a story telling pattern and help children navigate understanding the beginning, middle and end of stories as well as the structure and foundation of stories.

3. Improves Vocabulary
   As children learn new words from nursery rhymes, they expand their vocabulary in a fun and memorable way. Rhymes often introduce playful and imaginative language that sticks with children. The continued exposure to new words and phrases helps form the connections in their brain to build their vocabulary inventory.

4. Enhances Speech Fluency
   Regular practice with nursery rhymes helps children develop better speech fluency. The rhythmic patterns and repetition in rhymes make it easier for them to practice pronunciation and speech rhythm. Continued practice of these long and complex phrases teaches children to form longer sentences in conversation and develop the ability to sequence difficult sounds and syllables together.

How to Teach Nursery Rhymes at Home

Introducing nursery rhymes into your daily routine can be both enjoyable and beneficial. It can also be EASY. As a parent, I understand the importance of finding convenient and simple ways to foster my children’s development. Here are some fun ways we do this in our home:

• Read Books with Nursery Rhymes
  Find books that feature classic nursery rhymes. Reading them together helps reinforce the words and rhythm. Bedtime is a great time to read these books and the consistent routine of reading these books can also help mitigate those tough transition behaviors that bedtime can often bring. Check out our link below for some of our favorites.

• Watch Videos and Sing Songs
  There are many engaging videos and songs available online that bring nursery rhymes to life. Singing along helps with memorization and pronunciation. Below you will find links to some of our favorite YouTube creators and Spotify artists for these songs. *Please note that we do recommend limitations on screentime especially for young children and add that we encourage co-viewing of any videos or screentime to allow for conversations and language opportunities for your child.

• Make Crafts and Act Out Rhymes
  Get creative by making crafts related to the rhymes. For example, create puppets for “The Three Little Pigs” and act out the story. Or use popsicle sticks and stickers to re-enact 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. These hands-on approaches reinforce the language and story and can be used over and over to practice and create memories.

• Incorporate Pretend Play
  Use pretend play to act out nursery rhymes. Grab the couch cushions and put them on a safe, soft surface. Let the little ones go wild and “jump on the bed” like the 5 Little Monkeys! Go outside and find the nearest hill, don’t forget your pail of water! Bring Jack and Jill to life and let your children burn off their energy with this fun physical activity! This can be a fun way to explore the rhymes’ characters and scenarios while practicing language skills.

• Make it your own!

The beauty of these nursery rhymes and the musical rhythms is that you can customize it to your unique words, too! I can’t tell you how often we have turned the boys’ favorite Wheels on the Bus into a new song whenever they are having a tough time. “The Grahams in the car go WAH WAH WAH” always stops my toddler from a car tantrum. “The Trumans in the house go BARK BARK BARK” stops my baby from getting upset when our family dog barks too loud at the Amazon driver… The list goes on and on. Anytime you can add a rhythm and rhyme to your child’s day contributes to their learning and language development.

The Power of Repetition and Fun

Consistency is key when it comes to nursery rhymes. Repeating the same rhymes helps solidify learning and makes the experience more enjoyable for your child. The more fun you make it—through songs, crafts, and play—the more effective it will be. When children are engaged and having fun, they’re more likely to absorb and retain the language skills being practiced.

Incorporating nursery rhymes into your daily routine is a simple yet powerful way to support your child’s speech and language development. So next time you sing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or read a nursery rhyme book, remember that you’re not just having fun—you’re also building a strong foundation for your child’s reading success. 🌟📖

Over the next few weeks on our Instagram page, I will be sharing ways I use Nursery Rhymes in Speech Therapy and at home with my children. Be sure to follow along for those tips and tricks, and share how you practice them too!

Happy rhyming! 🎉💖

Resources:

For links to our favorite books featuring Nursery Rhymes, check out this list below. Please note that we do receive a commission for any purchases made using our custom link through the Amazon Affiliate program. We appreciate your support:

Nursery Rhyme Books

Click the following links to our favorite YouTube videos and a Spotify playlist.

References:

This blog was created with the help of incredible researchers and their work and articles are cited below:

Roe, A., & McGinty, L. (2014).
Roe, A., & McGinty, L. (2014). The impact of nursery rhymes on language development. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 14(2), 154-173.
DOI: 10.1177/1468798414524963

Miller, J. F., & Smith, M. L. (2015).
Miller, J. F., & Smith, M. L. (2015). Phonological awareness and early literacy: The role of nursery rhymes. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 30(1), 38-47.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2014.10.001

Neuman, S. B., & Celano, D. C. (2013).
Neuman, S. B., & Celano, D. C. (2013). The effects of nursery rhymes on children's literacy development: A meta-analysis. Reading Research Quarterly, 48(3), 329-345.
DOI: 10.1002/rrq.51

Zuckerman, A. S., & Greenfield, P. M. (2017).
Zuckerman, A. S., & Greenfield, P. M. (2017). Nursery rhymes and early language acquisition: A longitudinal study. Developmental Psychology, 53(5), 976-986.
DOI: 10.1037/dev0000248

Stark, R. E., & Jacobs, R. H. (2019).
Stark, R. E., & Jacobs, R. H. (2019). Exploring the relationship between nursery rhymes and language skills in preschool children. Journal of Child Language, 46(6), 1310-1332.
DOI: 10.1017/S0305000918000774