Songs and rhymes are fun ways to teach your child speech sounds, words, and gestures. They work well because:

• Everyone can be included.
• Children can learn to copy.
• The actions can help teach the meanings of words.
• The rhythm and rhyme help your child remember the sounds, words, and actions.
• They repeat, helping your child learn listening skills and new words.

Learning with songs and rhymes

When teaching your child songs and rhymes, your child will probably pay attention and listen at first.

Then they may start to rock, clap, and dance to the music or beat. They may copy a few of the actions in the song or rhyme.

Soon your child will start to make vowel sounds, babble, and practise some sounds. They might try to hum the tune.

Then they will move on to sing a few of the phrases until they can sing the whole song or say the whole rhyme.

Using songs and rhymes to teach your child

Remember to connect the sounds, words, and actions with everyday activities and events. For example, sing and talk about “Old MacDonald’s Farm” when you see real or toy farm animals in books, videos, and real life.

Change a song you know to make up your own song about your child’s daily activities. For example, to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” sing:

“Brush, brush, brush your teeth gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream!”

“Wash, wash, wash your hands gently down the stream…”

“Comb, comb, comb your hair, gently down the stream…”

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