Nursery rhymes have been widely known and sung by children of all ages. These songs play a big part in our childhood, and as adults, we still know our nursery rhymes, right?
Nursery rhymes are short songs or verses that are usually educational or used to entertain and amuse the listeners. These vary in subject, style, and tone, though almost all use rhythms and rhymes to make them easier to understand and remember.
As a teacher mom, I normally prefer rhymes that are positive in nature, especially if children will listen and sing to these rhymes every day. I highly suggest we choose songs with lessons or values that will help our children learn a thing or two.
I love nursery rhymes that tackle all areas of development such as cognitive, language, physical and emotional development, etc. I also make sure the videos presented are educational, age-appropriate, interactive, and FUN!
Top 5 nursery rhymes from YouTube (in no particular order) according to a teacher mom
The nursery rhymes and videos that I’m recommending are tried and tested with my daughter, Sophia. who is now 3 years old. She loves these rhymes and indeed learned a lot from them.
1. Old MacDonald Had A Farm (from Super Simple Songs)
Old MacDonald Had A Farm is a song about animals, their homes, and nature combined. It’s a fun way to develop children’s cognitive and language skills as they identify each animal and the sound it makes. This song also helps their gross motor skills as they actively participate in the action song. When children visit a farm, they can sing this song and apply what they’ve learned!
What I love about this video:
- The animals are seen in their homes. The pig is in the pig pen. The duck is in the pond. The horse is eating grass in the field, etc.
- The video is simple, and the music is really good (using violin- with classical touch).
- The drawings are clear and attractive to little children.
- A lot of repetition is going on and it helps children remember the animals one by one.
2. Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (from Pop Babies)
The song Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes is good for language development as children learn to imitate the adult or children singing while learning to name the different parts of the body. Moving to the beat of the music helps children improve balance and coordination, develop large motor skills, and allow them to release their energy. Their memory is enhanced because of the song’s repetitive nature.
What I love about this video:
- It’s created by Pinoys!
- It shows real children singing and doing actions to the song, not just drawings or cartoons.
- The whole video is eye-catching and the backgrounds are not distracting.
- The beat is lively and encourages children to be expressive.
3. Five Little Ducks (from Bounce Patrol)
Five Little Ducks is an important nursery rhyme because it teaches children how to count from one to five. It’s a story about a mama duck with her five little ducks. This also teaches about subtraction, backward counting, number recognition, and number order.
Children need repetition to learn new skills and strengthen the ones they already know. This rhyme is a great way to help children have fun while learning important skills.
What I love about this video:
- The entire video is interactive and fun!
- The performer/storyteller is lively and engaging.
- The video used simple labels, large fonts, and numbers which is great for little children.
- Children will learn about feelings and creative expressions.
4. One Two Three Four Five, Once I Caught a Fish Alive (from Mother Goose Club)
Children can learn a lot from this nursery rhyme. It’s a fun and engaging way to count and recognize numbers one up to ten. It also enhances children’s social, language, and thinking skills with the question “Why?” And to answer with “Because...”. Through this, children learn to reason out and share their ideas with others.
What I love about this video:
- The video is simple but can be applicable in real life. Example: During a vacation, the family catches fish in the river while singing the song.
- The children can use their imagination when doing imaginative or dramatic play (riding a boat, being bitten by a fish, going fishing as a fisherman, putting a band-aid on the finger, etc.)
- Graphics and labels are related to the rhyme presented.
- It tells a story and shows how the child handles the situation (he had to let go of the fish because it bit his finger)
- Finger play: Learning to count using their fingers.
5. B-I-N-G-O! (from Cocomelon)
This is a well-loved song as it teaches children to identify letters and the corresponding sounds that go with them. Children will learn to read from left to right and be more confident in learning to spell B-I-N-G-O. Eventually, they’ll learn to spell their names too. It’s a fun way to practice speech and alphabet recognition more simply.
What I love about this video:
- It includes the whole family – papa, mama, brother, sister, and baby.
- Big letters BINGO are presented throughout the video.
- Repetition helps children learn to spell the word BINGO.
- It shows the family taking care of and playing with their pet dog.
- It shows that bonding with the family is fun!
Our role as parents
Children love music and respond to it at an early age. We are grateful for nursery rhymes because they are educational and ignite all areas of a child’s development. It opens a door to a lot of possibilities and introduces children to the wonderful world of music!
Through rhymes and music, children have the freedom to have fun, be creative, and to release their energy through dancing and singing! When they attend school, children will learn to follow instructions, participate in groups, refine their social skills, work together and learn to share.
As parents, our role is to support and encourage our children to love learning throughout their lives. We can do this!
Sarah May Tanhuanco Tan is a member of the Smart Parenting Mom Squad, and is known as The Full Time Mommy. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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