Nursery rhymes are an excellent aid to teach English words and language not just in English-speaking countries, but are increasingly used to teach little ones around the world. There are many reasons why nursery rhymes are effective tools for this purpose. The nature of song makes teaching words more fun than simply having a regular classroom lesson, especially for those learning when very young. The repetitive characteristic of rhymes also makes it easier for children to memorize and retain the words of each rhyme. Many of these songs also have accompanying motions and actions that further reinforce the memory of the lyrics and pronunciation in young minds.
How Singing Nursery Rhymes is Beneficial
Singing has been known to increase alertness and help improve blood circulation. This is extremely helpful with young children, especially with children who are learning a new language. Singing has also been known to help relax the body and relieve stress, which may come in handy for children who just beginning to learn English. Singing can also contribute an element of fun to lessons, making learning a song like the Alphabet Song more like playing than learning.
Repetition is Good for Learning
Children can learn a variety of English words through nursery rhymes. They can names of animals, colors, numbers and shapes. The repetition they encounter in repeating verses of a rhyme such as Wheels on the Bus can be very helpful to retaining the image in their minds of the wheels going round and round, as well as the pronunciation of the word “round” when said over and over.
Many Rhymes have Repetitive Motions
Rhymes such as Hokey Pokey and Roly Poly utilize body motions while singing, which are enormously beneficial in helping memorization of the taught English words. Not only does movement contribute to alertness and attention for the student, but making the connection between a learned English phrase and the action that goes with it makes a lasting imprint in the child’s mind. The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois has found that more physically fit children are better able to think efficiently and also handle multiple tasks with more proficiency.
While these are just some of the many benefits of utilizing nursery rhymes to help teach English, one cannot argue with the results that parents and classrooms around the world are seeing. The prevalence of nursery rhyme resources for parents online is a clear sign that parents have clearly taken notice of the benefits, and the trend is extremely likely to continue.