Where Did the Wheels on The Bus Originate?
The Wheels on the Bus is a folk song based out of America the song was written for children by Verna Mills in or around 1939. The song is popular and is often sung by children during bus rides to keep themselves occupied as well as entertained. This particular children’s nursery rhyme is a repetitive type of song which makes it much easier for younger children to remember.
Activities Used for Teaching
The Wheels on the Bus is both a friendly and fun song for children, the song is also used quite frequently in learning lessons for both preschool and kindergarten aged children. A popular activity that is used as a learning tool is a song and role play version. Children will sing along while gesturing the movements of the different actions of the bus for example, using their hands to create ‘swooshing wipers’, ‘opening and closing bus doors’ and ‘rolling tires’. Not only is it a fun activity it is also a great way to help a child engage with other children and learn while doing so.
Has This Song Ever Differed?
While many children’s songs change over time whether parts are altered or completely removed in the nursery rhymes (this happens quite often) The Wheels on the Bus is one of the very few favorites that has always remained the same. Although, the words to the rhyme itself haven’t changed new role play activities are popping up every day.
Tips and Ideas
Music is a terrific way for children to learn to count, learn shapes and colors, role play, and most importantly express themselves. Finger play is a great go to when singing and or teaching nursery rhymes, help paint your child’s finger with yellow and black paint (finger paint) this will be the bus and the wheels, paint another finger to look like the mommies on the bus and so on there is nothing better than seeing your child happy, and eager to learn. Baby video songs free download is also a wonderful tool to aid in your babies learning and development, all while helping to teach your children about safety and rules from a young age.
Another activity that is popular among parents and teachers of young children is teaching their children the song motions in ASL. Not only will your child be learning through music and sound they will also be learning through a different kind of language/communication which is truly something that is very beneficial. The gestures and signs are easy and self-explanatory so much so that a child as young as 3 (occasionally younger than 3) is very likely to successfully sign the words accurately, making it a perfect activity for those who want to both keep their child occupied and having fun all while gaining knowledge that will indeed be fundamental to them in the future and throughout their entire lives as well.