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From the 11th to the 15th of November 2024 Lechlade Little Learners alongside settings all over the world took part in World Nursery Rhyme Week. Now you are probably wondering where and when was World Nursery Rhyme Week thought up and created. Back in 2013 Music Bugs, a sensory and music baby class had an idea and launched World Nursery Rhyme Week. They wanted to promote the importance of nursery rhymes in early childhood development and education.
Since 2013 over 5 million children from all over the world have taken part. This year as a setting we decided we wanted to be part of such a wonderful initiative.
Each day focused on a different nursery rhyme and we planned some of our activities around those nursery rhymes as well as sharing and exploring other nursery rhymes along the way. The 5 official rhymes for 2024 were:
Twinkle Twinkle
Old MacDonald
The big ship sails
Incy wincy spider
5 current buns
It was great to be part of such an exciting week and to explore nursery rhymes more but it is important that nursery rhymes are more than just one week of the year. The singing of nursery rhymes is so important to the development of children's language and communication skills.
Nursery rhymes are extremely valuable to support language and communication skills, build confidence and prepare children for reading and writing as they get older. Opportunities to hear, learn, and sing rhymes and songs have been missed for many children due to the pandemic.
National Literacy Trust 2024
Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they're four years old, they're usually among the best readers by the time they're eight.
Mem Fox, Reading Magic
You might now be thinking this is all great, improved social and communication skills, improved maths skills, but where do I start as a parent in supporting my child?
This answer is simple sing, sing with your child, sing to your child. Don't be embarrassed or worried you don't have the voice for it we can promise you your child will not care they will love listening and joining you in song. And if you don't know many nursery rhymes or maybe you have just forgotten a few we have some links below that will direct you to a variety of nursery rhymes.
Blog written by Hazel Adamson (Preschool Manager)
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