Connect With Your Child Over These Three Nursery Rhymes

Singing, moving around, laughing, nursery rhymes have it all. They are also sneaky good ways to teach about senses, autonomy, and cooperation; all while creating a bond between parent and child.

Below, you'll find three all-time classic nursery rhymes, their lyrics, a fun fact about each of them, and a video to learn along with.

This little Piggy

This little piggy went to market, This little piggy stayed home, This little piggy had roast beef, This little piggy had none. This little piggy went... Wee, wee, wee, all the way home!

This Little Piggy is a fun sensory nursery rhyme for your young child. It teaches them about their body and creates a bond with your little one. You grab each toe for each line, starting with the big toe, and then tickle them on Wee, wee, wee, all the way home!

Fun fact: According to The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes, In 1728, the first line of the rhyme appeared in a medley called “The Nurse's Song”. The first known full version was recorded in The Famous Tommy Thumb's Little Story-Book, published in London about 1760.

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes Head, shoulders, knees and toes knees and toes And eyes and ears and mouth and nose Head, shoulders, knees and toes knees and toes.

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes is a good way to get your child moving around! Each time a body part is said out loud, you point your body part, or gently touch it. You and your child really get moving when touching your knees and toes.

Each time you sing through Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, you omit singing a body part, but still go through the motions of the song until the only thing you sing is “and.” This nursery rhyme is good for burning off some energy after sitting around for a little while, practising coordination, and once again, learning parts of the body.

Fun fact: There is no clear origin of Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row, row, row your boat Gently down the stream Merrily merrily, merrily, merrily Life is but a dream!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat can be sun in a round, which means one person starts singing, and then after the first line—"row, row, row your boat"—a second person starts by singing “row, row, row your boat.” A good example is from Star Trek: The Final Frontier.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat is a good song for multiple people. It's good practice for working together with others.

Fun fact: The Americana Song Reader states that the earliest printing of Row Row Row Your Boat is from 1852, when the lyrics were published with similar lyrics to those used today, but with a very different tune. It was reprinted again two years later with the same lyrics and another tune.