Origin
The original writer and date of this song can’t be determined but there are plenty of different versions. Everyone who has recorded this song has put their own touch to it while keeping the lyrics the same. Some versions have added their own verses (words) to it. However, the melody is kept pretty much the same. Examples of different versions/artist of this song includes: The Wiggles, Little Baby Bum, Debbie Doo Kids TV (to name a few). Open Shut Them is a very important rhyme in terms of assisting a child with their early development/learning skills that are to be used later on in life.
Development of skills
This is the perfect song to help children develop a certain set of skills early on. The first set of skills would be fine motor skills. The child is learning to become physical. This song allows them to learn how to open and close their hands, move their hands around, how to use their fingers. Children listening to this rhyme will also learn the basic parts of the body. They will learn where to locate their hands, fingers, mouth, neck, chin etc. The next set of skills will be communication skills. This song will help the child to develop speech allowing them to learn words and how to say them. Vocal skills go along with this in terms of children practicing singing along. The last set of skills is logic. By this song being simple children are able to follow along and understand the words/action of it.
Topics children can explore
Singing along can help a child to explore a vast variety of things. Children will be able to explore music (listening to the melody). They will explore emotion and language by singing along. Using this rhyme will open the doors of a child’s imagination which gives them the opportunity to view things in a different way. Another topic children can explore with this rhyme is musical experience. Music plays a very important role in the young life of a child. Musical activities for children (especially for toddlers and infants) engages their physical state. This rhyme allows them to experience finger-playing, wiggling, and tickling.
Educational Experience
Teachers and parents can foster a child’s educational experience by encouraging the child’s participation. Children aren’t able to express themselves fluently through writing or speech. Sound, art, and movement are the only ways children can express themselves. This rhyme can assist children with just that. Open Shut them can help a child become more active by miming the actions of the song. Having children in a circle on a rug can help with fellowship with each other. This can be done by the teacher or parent singing along with the child as well as doing what the song says. The song will foster the child’s creativity and allow them to be different.