Nursery rhymes are perfect for babies and toddlers. They are short and simple to recite or sing. They include words that begin and end with the same sounds, helping children’s brains to recognize syllables and hear similarities in patterns. Familiarity with nursery rhymes can lead to phonological awareness. The repetition in nursery rhymes helps increase a child’s vocabulary. Research shows that children who enter kindergarten knowing nursery rhymes will have an easier time learning how to read.
Mother Goose on the Loose® is based on nursery rhymes that are presented in a variety of different ways. Below are links to different rhymes presented by many people in a wide range of styles. If they do not open simply by clicking on the link, try pressing the Control Key and clicking at the same time!
Rhyme of the Month
A
A Leopard Has Lots of Spots (Animal Rhymes) Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore, Maryland
And We Hop (Freeze Game) from Port Discovery Children’s Museum
Animals on the Bus – explaining how to add animal actions and noises
La Araña Pequenita(Animal Rhymes) from the San Bernadino County Library, California
Baby Baby Dumpling, (Knee bounce) British Columbia Public Libraries
Bananas (Whole Body) Riverton Branch Library
Bananas Unite (Whole Body) from the Timberland Regional Public Library in Washington State.
Bananas Unite (Whole Body) from the King County Library System
Behind a Tree, (clapping rhyme) British Columbia Public Libraries
Bells Away (Clean-Up Song) by Derek at the Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore.
Bicycle Song by Julie from the Kamehameha School System in Hawaii.
A Big Mac Truck from a Mother Goose on the Loose Workshop in Surrey, British Columbia
Bubble, Bubble, Pop (Colors Song) from the Champaign Library, Illinois
Bubble, Bubble, Say Good-Bye – a song for the end of your session by Lisa
Bubbles (Fingerplay)from the Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Buenas Dias / Good Morning (Fingerplay) Bibliotecas ParalaGente
Bumpy Road by Cork Hardin at the Village Learning Place
C
Can You Shake Your Egg With Me? (Egg shakers) Riverton Branch Library
Caterpillar, Caterpillar (ASL) shown by Kathy MacMillan
Cherries on a Plate (Flannel Board Book Illustration) from Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore
Choo, Choo (Hand Slapping) Musser Public Library, Iowa
Choo Choo (a short version)
Choo Choo Train from the King County Library System, Washington State
Clap Your Hands (Body Rhymes)from the Johnson County Library, Kansas
D
Dinosaur Rhyme (Standing Up) Early Childhood School Library
Click here for more songs and rhymes from the King County Library System
Click here for more fingerplays from the Hennepin County Library
Click here for more fingerplays from the Johnson County Library
Click here for more songs and rhymes from the Scottsdale Public Library
Click here for more songs and rhymes from the San Bernadino County Library