Learning About Finger Rhymes and Action Rhymes
By: Moira Collett
In a recent survey by Booktrust, only just over a third of parents surveyed stated that they
regularly use nursery rhymes with their children, while almost a quarter admitted that they
have never sung a nursery rhyme with their child.
First hand experiences with finger rhymes and action rhymes will give children lots of
opportunities to play with words. One of the earliest forms of storytelling is the stories told
through rhymes – the story of Humpty Dumpty falling from the wall or Incey Wincey Spider
climbing up the water spout and being washed down by the rain.
In your classroom, plan to introduce a new rhyme to a pair or small group of children. This
activity is suitable for younger children, although babies will be responding to the rhyme
rather than joining in with the words. With young babies it may be more appropriate to use
just fingers, making contact with the baby, rather than using props. For the youngest
children, this activity can require no resources other than an enthusiastic, caring
practitioner and a comfortable corner to settle and share the rhymes.
Are you familiar with the most popular rhymes? The top six rhymes in a survey in the UK
are the following: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Incey Wincey Spider, Round and Round the
Garden, Baa Baa Black Sheep, The Grand Old Duke of York, If you’re happy and you
know it.