Like many nursery rhymes Mary Mary Quite Contrary has it’s roots deep in English history. I believe that it actually alludes to Mary Tudor who was contrary because she changed the English church from Protestant back to Catholic. However, over the years that connotation has definitely faded, and when we sing it today, it is […]
The Farmer’s In His Den Circle Game
The Farmer’s In His Den is the perfect choice for playgroups and parties. It has an easy repetitive tune and it’s sung as a simple circle game, that gets everyone involved. Kids really love it’s catchy “EE-I-AD-I-O” refrain, and so they’ll often pick it up well before they can sing the rest of the words. […]
Teddy Bear Nursery Rhymes and Finger Plays
Finger plays are an incredibly useful thing to have in the repertoire for keeping babies and toddlers entertained. The repetitive and rhythmic nature makes them easily recognisable for small children and they will quickly become first favourites. Walky Round The Garden Walky Round The Garden is one of the best known finger plays because even very young […]
I Went to Visit a Farm One Day
I Went to Visit a Farm One Day is perhaps the easiest song to sing about farms with preschoolers. This song doesn’t require any actions or dancing, just a full and enthusiastic repertoire of farmyard noises! Alternatively this song also goes down very well with puppets. You can try homemade sock puppets or paper finger […]
Little Bo Peep Hide And Seek Game
Little Bo Peep is a delightful nursery rhyme. It has a simple melody with a small range of only a fifth (So-Do) so it is perfect for when small children are just learning to pitch notes. It tells the story of a Shepherdess who has lost her sheep and is searching for them. Little ones […]
Baa Baa Black Sheep Lyrics & Activities
Baa Baa Black Sheep is one of the first nursery rhymes toddlers will sing. It has a steady beat and an easy memorable tune which is almost exactly the same as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. It is also brilliant for introducing the interval of a fifth and then singing down the descending scale. At this […]
Oats And Beans And Barley Grow: Favourite Farm Songs
Oats and Beans and Barley Grow is one of our favourite farm songs, wonderful for the changing season, when Winter has finally passed and we are looking forward to the new growth of Spring and the Summer harvest that will follow. It is full of the the joy and wonder of Nature’s bounty! Oat&Beans&Barley […]
Little Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet is a lovely traditional Nursery Rhyme that is catchy and easy to sing. I have always found it particularly useful if children are a little worried by creepy crawlies – especially with the second verse. Little Miss Muffet Lyrics Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet Eating her curds and whey, Along […]
Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter : Rainy Day Songs
Pitter Patter, Pitter Patter is one of the best Rainy Day Songs for children to explore the sounds and rhythms made by the rain because it’s use of repetition is excellent for practicing tapping the ‘pitter patter, pitter patter’ quaver (1/4 note) beats, and the alliteration and repeated consonants are excellent for speech development. If you […]
Here We Go Looby-Loo! : Action Songs
Here We Go Looby-loo is a lovely circle game because it has simple movements that everyone does together as part of the dance. It’s one of the easiest action songs and if your kids know the Hokey-Cokey then they’ll recognise some similarities. And because everyone does the same thing even very young children are happy […]