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Nursery rhymes have a powerful role to play in children’s speech development
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Freya Lucas
Feb 25, 2025
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Nursery rhymes such as Incy Wincy Spider and Old McDonald Had a Farm have been sung through multiple generations, and there’s a reason they are perennial favourites.
As well as being easy to sing, and passing on information about historical events (did you know Humpty Dumpty was a cannon, not an egg?) and safety lessons (such as those little monkeys who jumped on a bed and soon found themselves with sore heads), nursery rhymes help children - even before they can speak themselves - to acquire speech and language skills.Nursery rhymes defined
Nursery rhymes are songs which are sung to younger children, and the name ‘nursery rhyme’ comes from the singing of these songs (or sharing of poems or counting songs) with children in their nurseries.
Handed down over many generations, these songs are a sociable, relaxing and easy way to help children to acquire and develop language and literacy.
Many of these rhymes have specialised actions which accompany them, solidifying the learning as well as helping children with physical development and coordination.
Even before birth, children can benefit from the exposure to language that nursery rhymes provide.
“There are so many wonderful new songs these days that I think many people have forgotten or don’t even know the traditional songs that many generations have grown up with,” hey dee ho Director Jenny Wilkinson said.
While the educational services provider offers a wide variety of original songs, and songs from other composers the traditional songs have a special place for many of the team.
“There is something so special about being able to sing songs we, ourselves, enjoyed as children, and to introduce them to a new generation.”
The role of nursery rhymes in language development
From a speech pathology perspective, nursery rhymes are a wonderful way to encourage and support speech and language development and early literacy skills. “We hear the occasional misconception nursery rhymes are outdated and not educational for children,” Ms Wilkinson continued.
“Whilst there are some wonderful Australian artists who have really nailed the production of simple yet entertaining and educational songs for more modern contexts, singing and listening to nursery rhymes helps children to develop and hone their auditory skills.”
Singing and listening to nursery rhymes helps children to develop and hone their auditory skills. Listening to the same song over and over helps babies and children to recognise and learn the sounds involved in speech and, in time, start to repeat them. The repetition involved in most nursery rhymes reinforces this development because each time they hear the song children have several chances to pick up each sound and word.
Research has shown that repetition is vital for children to pick up language, with many words having similar sounds. When children repeat words often, through speech or through song, they become better at sorting and remembering them.
Children are also introduced to new words through nursery rhymes and songs, words which they might not otherwise encounter in their day to day lives.
Hearing new words is an important part of developing vocabulary for children, also boosting their listening and comprehension skills.
With the predictable beginning, middle and end of many of these rhymes, children’s skills of sequencing and comprehension are also developed.
Benefits beyond speech
With improved and dynamic speech comes a strong focus on future reading.
Research has shown that there is a link between children’s early experience of, and exposure to, nursery rhymes and their phonological skills later on in childhood.
While strong phonological skills are important when it comes to learning to read, strong fine and gross motor skills are needed to sit up to write, to grip a pen or pencil, or to join other children in play.
With a number of nursery rhymes involving dances, actions and gestures, these can be a great way to support children with their fine and gross motor development.
Social and communication skills get a boost from nursery rhymes too, with children encouraged to cooperate, take turns and behave in a coordinated manner (think of the Hokey Pokey… if everyone is doing a different movement, the song is not effective), which in turn improves physical and social confidence.
“Nursery rhymes are a popular favourite for a very good reason,” Ms Wilkinson said. “Sometimes the simple things really are the best.”
Hey dee ho has been providing exceptional enrichment programs and educational services across Australia and New Zealand since 1987. The play-based music, yoga, drama and fitness programs are suited to all ages and support childhood development and learning.
Partnering with childcare and education providers to take their services to the next level by offering innovative, fun and rewarding programs that children of all ages can enjoy, hey dee ho works with industry leaders and trusted experts, so their program selection is responsive and constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of today's children.
Would you like to learn more about hey dee ho’s range of educational services? Reach out here.
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