By Emma Thomas – Full-time mum to a 18-month-old, part-time blogger and writer, with a background as a Kindy Teacher/Director
Have you had the experience where you start to sing a nursery rhyme or children’s song and get corrected by your two year old?! There are so many different versions of these songs, as well as extra verses and different actions.
Nursery rhymes are an excellent way to engage with young children and are excellent for brain development. They are easy to learn as they are short and have simple tunes.
As a teacher I have worked with lots of different children and families so have learnt lots of variations of songs! Teaching overseas was a great opportunity to add to my repertoire, as well as running playground, teaching at different centres and going to baby rhyme time at the library. I love learning extra verses to songs so will share some with you today.
Row Your Boat
I love Row Your Boat, it’s great fun and a good action song. When I was singing this at playgroup one of the families shared some extra verses with me.
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
If you see a crocodile
Don’t forget to scream
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the river
If you see a polar bear
Don’t forget to shiver
Row, row, row your boat
Gently to the shore
If you see a lion
Don’t forget to ROAR!
Humpty Dumpty
My mum used to sing Humpty Dumpty when we were little and would do all the verses!
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
All the King’s horses and all the King’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again!
Poor old Humpty, poor old Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty sat on the ground
Humpty Dumpty looked all around
Gone were the chimneys
Gone were the roofs
All he could see was buckles and hooves!
Poor old Humpty, poor old Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty counted to 10
Humpty Dumpty got up again
All the King’s horses and all the King’s men
Are happy that Humpy’s together again!
Baa Baa Black Sheep
This is one I found when researching for this blog. I have started singing it with my daughter and she loves hearing about all of the different animals.
“Cluck, cluck, red hen, have you any eggs?
Yes sir, yes sir, as many as your legs.
One for your breakfast and one for your lunch;
Come back tomorrow and I’ll have another bunch.
Moo, moo brown cow, have you milk for me?
Yes sir, yes sir, as tasty as can be.
Churn it into butter, make it into cheese,
Freeze it into ice cream or drink it if you please.
Buzz, buzz busy bee, is your honey sweet?
Yes sir, yes sir, sweet enough to eat.
Honey on your muffin, honey on your cake,
Honey by the spoonful, as much as I can make.”
Incy Wincy Spider
I have been singing Incy Wincy Spider for years but it was only when I started going along to Rhyme Time at my local library that I discovered Teeny Weeny and Hairy Scary Spider!
Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed poor Incy out
Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain
So, Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the spout again
Teeny Weeny Spider climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed poor Teeny out
Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain
So, Teeny Weeny climbed up the spout again
Hairy Scary climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain and washed poor Hairy out
Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain
So, Hairy Scary climbed up the spout again
Nursery rhymes are so much fun to share with your children and I encourage you to sing some new ones this week!
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