As parents we’ll use a few methods to soothe our children when they’re crying. For as long as most of us can remember, before bouncers and baby swings there was a more traditional method—singing. While among various ways to soothe our babies, singing has long since been a popular one for as long as anyone can remember. As we sing these songs, most haven’t put much thought in to where they came from, how they were created or what prompted the creation of these melodies to soothe a baby. However, we’re going to take a much closer look in to one very popular one that is still used around the world today known as Rock a baby.
Theories behind rock a bye baby lyrics
If one were to examine the lyrics behind this popular song, it might seem a bit disturbing to think of a child in a tree swinging to and from and leaving the parent to catch them when they fall from the tree. However, if we were to look much closer of the origins and how this popular lullaby came to be, you might be surprised at what you might learn. While there are numerous versions as far as the lyrics go to this popular lullaby, the first printed form of this song came in an old Mother Goose book dated back in London in the year of 1765.
There are many theories surrounding the creation of this lullaby, but an actual origin hasn’t yet been discovered. Originally, it was thought that a baby in a cradle was rocked and comforted by its parent which could be thought of the way the wind may blow through trees and gentle rock the branches and leaves. In other cultures, it was said the song represented immigrants who had relocated and taken note of the way cradles were made of wood from the tees and then suspended from the trees in which the wind when blowing would rock the cradles. Around the 17th century there were rumors that stated that often during childbirth children would die during birth. As a result, a child would be placed in a cradle that would be hung from trees in belief that it could bring them back to life. However, due to poorly constructed cradles and the weight of the baby, it was said the body of the baby would cause the cradle to break the limbs of the tree and they would know the child wasn’t going to come back.
How children benefit from the rock a bye baby lyrics
You might be surprised to know that singing this song to babies as young as newborn up to age five have surprising benefits. In fact, for babies the sound of a mother’s voice and often the closeness of snuggling a baby will soothe them when it comes to fussiness. As the child progressively ages it will help them form words, build on vocabulary as well as memory from the repetition. Phonics as well as rhyming are all important parts of the growing brain when it comes to young children.
When this song is sung to young children it can help them explore topics such as cause and effect, it can help them to understand other cultures when it comes to raising babies differently in different times, but it can also teach them the important of music being able to soothe oneself or even in others. Singing has been a great way to help children and babies explore vocal ranges which can help them later with making sounds and eventually forming words and sentences. It makes children aware of the environment, how things work, motor skills and so forth. This song in this way will help develop educational experiences as well as teach the children different topics.