Nursery rhymes, lullabies, and songs OH MY!

07/16/2013

Singing, rhyming and lullabies are a great way to connect with your baby and help with language development.  The repetition and happy sounds are a great way to introduce counting, animate with actions, and practice animal sounds.

We started singing to our son from day 1 and found he enjoyed being sung to even as a little guy.  He’s heard the very same 2 songs every night since he was born.  Through feedings, during rides in the car and to calm him, we’ve sung a variety of lullabies and rhymes – known favourites and even classic ones we’ve added our own twist to.  He seemed to quickly connect with our songs even as a young baby.  Now as a toddler, songs and rhymes with actions are at the top of his list!

Here is a list of our Top 10:

• You Are My Sunshine – One of the 2 songs we’ve sung to our little guy every night since he was born.  Sometimes we break it out in the day if he needs a little calming.
• This Little Piggy – I think my baby’s toes are irresistible!  And he thinks the: “Wee, wee, wee, all the way home” is pretty hysterical.  We started this one very early on.  Vegan?  Vegetarian?  Check out this version!
• Old MacDonald Had a Farm –  Such a great way to teach animal sounds!  Old MacD has some pretty interesting animals at his farm according to how we sing it! Monkeys, owls, dogs, snakes, kangaroos…
• Round & Round the Garden – The best part is the tickle!  Sure to produce giggles.
• Wheels on the Bus – A great nursery rhyme with actions! Our toddler’s favourite is the beep beep beep, so we tend to repeat that one.  We’ve added in our own verses too!
• Itzy Bitzy Spider – Another great song with actions! And we also do a round of the teeny tiny & great big spider with voices to match.
• 5 Little Monkeys – Repetition.  Actions.  Funny voices.  Good times!
• Ring Around the Rosy – There is no better part than “we all fall down“!  according to our son.  He looooves this!
• Head & Shoulders, Knees & Toes  – A fun and fantastic way to teach body parts and fun to sing and act out.
• If You’re Happy And You Know It – Again, another great one with actions! We clap, we snap, we stomp, whistle and click, we shout woohoo, we say HAPPY!  It’s way too fun!

What are your favourite songs, lullabies and rhymes?