Archive for the ‘Nursery Rhymes’ Category

Banbury Cross

Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross
To see a fine lady upon a white horse.
With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes
She shall have music wherever she goes.

This is a great one for newborns and infants. You can bounce them on your lap for riding a horse. Then tickle their fingers and toes when you say “fingers” and “toes” in the rhyme.

The Mouse and the Clock

Hickory, dickory, dock!
{Swing arm like the pendulum on a grandfather clock}
The mouse ran up the clock.
{Run fingers up your arm or up in the air}
The clock struck one
{Hold up 1 finger}
And down he run.
{Also said, “The mouse ran down”}
{Run fingers down your arm or down in the air}
Hickory, dickory dock!
{Swing arm like the pendulum on a grandfather clock}

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

Mary, Mary, quite contrary
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle-shells
And pretty maids all in a row.

Pussy-Cat and Queen

“Pussy-cat, Pussy-cat,
Where have you been?”
“I’ve been to London
To look at the Queen”

“Pussy-cat, Pussy-cat,
What did you there?”
“I frightened a little mouse
Under her chair.”

The Cat and the Fiddle

Hey, diddle, diddle!
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon
The little dog laughed
To see such sport
And the dish ran away with the sppon.

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb
Its fleece was white as snow
And everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day
That was against the rule.
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out,
But still it lingered near;
And waited patiently about
Till Mary did appear.

“Why does the lamb love Mary so?”
The eager children cry.
“Why Mary loves the lamb, you know!”
The teacher did reply.

Rain

Rain, rain go away
Little Sammi wants to play
Rain, rain go away
Come again some other day

Switch out Sammi for your child’s name. Little ones love hearing their name in a song or rhyme. They feel very special. They are also more attentive because it connects to them personally.

The Pumpkin Eater

Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater
Had a wife and couldn’t keep her
Put her in a pumpkin shell
And there he kept her very well.

Pat-A-Cake

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake
{clap hands}
Baker’s man
{clap hands}
Bake me a cake
{clap hands}
As fast as you can.
{clap hands}

Roll it and pat it
{roll hands, pat stomach}
And mark it with a B
{draw letter “B” with finger}
And throw it in the oven
{throw hands in the air}
For baby and me.

With newborns and infants, hold their hands while you do the actions so their arms move too. As children get older and become more familiar with the actions, they’ll begin to do them on their own. My little ones loved to clap their hands and roll their arms.

This rhyme usually ends with kisses all over baby’s face, neck and stomach. It’s a great bonding rhyme.

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
All the King’s horses and all the King’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again

This one is great for bouncing newborns and infants on your lap.
With older children it’s fun practice saying “Humpty Dumpty”