The Best Nursery Rhymes for Children
Nursery rhymes play a vital role in early childhood development by enhancing language skills, boosting memory, and improving motor coordination. They are also a fun way to engage children, stimulate creativity, and introduce them to the joy of music and rhythm. If you’re looking for the best nursery rhymes to entertain and educate preschoolers, we’ve compiled a list of the 15 most popular ones. These timeless rhymes are loved by children and parents alike, making them perfect for preschool settings or at home.
Best Nursery Rhymes For Preschool Children
#1 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
A classic nursery rhyme that helps children learn about the night sky while introducing them to basic rhyming patterns.
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the traveler in the dark
Thank you for your tiny spark,
How could he see where to go,
If you did not twinkle so?
In the dark blue sky, you keep,
Often through my curtains peep
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveler in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.”
#2 Jack and Jill
A playful rhyme that introduces kids to simple storytelling, teaching lessons about cause and effect.
“Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water;
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
and Jill came tumbling after.
Up Jack got, and home did trot,
As fast as he could caper,
To old Dame Dob, who patched his nob
With vinegar and brown paper.”
#3 Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
This rhyme teaches counting and sharing, and its repetitive melody helps children grasp new words easily.
“Baa, baa, black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.
One for the master,
And one for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.”
#4 Star Light, Star Bright
The nursery rhyme “Star Light, Star Bright” is one of the most popular rhymes and obviously, it should be. The poem is all time favorite one and will also encourage your child to see the dream.
“Starlight, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have this wish I wish tonight.”
#5 I’m a Little Teapot
This poem is pantomime friendly. If your little one is scared about stage show or hitting the dance floor, this poem can help him very much. Make him a little teapot and teach him to dance on this poem. The choreography of this poem is available which was created by Kelley’s dance school in 1939.
“I’m a little teapot
Short and stouts
Here is my handle
Here is my spout
When I get all steamed up
I just shout
Tip me over and pour me out
I’m a very special pot
It’s true
Here’s an example of what I can do
I can turn my handle into a spout
Tip me over and pour me out
I’m a little teapot
Short and stouts
Here is my handle
Here is my spout
When I get all steamed up
I just shout
Tip me over and pour me out
I’m a very special pot
It’s true
Here’s an example of what I can do
I can turn my handle into a spout
Tip me over and pour me out.”
#6 Three Blind Mice
Despite being a dark nursery rhyme, it is quite famous among children. The poem is about three blind mice who end up being tailless. However, it is counted as one of the most popular nursery rhymes of all time.
“Three blind mice,
Three blind mice
See how they run,
See how they run!
They all ran after
The farmer’s wife
She cut off their tails
With a carving knife
Did you ever see
Such a sight in your life
As three blind mice?”
#7 Itsy Bitsy Spider
It is one of the most popular poems and since it’s pronunciation is cute, your child will look cuter when he/ she sings it.
“The itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again”
#8 Bingo
Bingo is an old folk song which was released in 1979 and become popular nursery rhyme and a favorite in all over the world. The song involves endless clapping and kids love it.
“There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-I-N-G-O
(clap)-I-N-G-O
(clap)-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
And Bingo was his name-o.”
#9 Little Jack Horner
This nursery rhyme is counted in one of the best holiday rhyme. It is about little Jack, children can relate themselves to him for his cupidity.
“Little Jack Horner
Sat in the corner,
Eating a Christmas pie;
He put in his thumb,
And pulled out a plum,
And said ‘What a good boy am I.”
#10 Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe
This is also one of the most popular poems of all the time. The poem is a game of choosing people randomly. The children play it as a game in which the chooser sing the first line and point to other after a line or per word and the next kid do the same.
“Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,
Catch a tiger by the toe.
If he hollers, let him go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe”
#11 Ring a Ring O Roses
This is considered to be the best nursery poem for plating. The children gather up in a ring and sing this poem and they also fall down. This surely will be a fun if you try like this on your child.
“Ring a ring o’roses
A pocketful of posies
ah-tishoo,ah-tishoo
We all fall down.
The King has sent his daughter
To fetch a pail of water
ah-tishoo, ah-tishoo
We all fall down.
The bird upon the steeple
Sits high above the people
ah-tishoo, ah-tishoo
We all fall down.
The cows are in the meadow
Lying fast asleep
ah-tishoo, ah-tishoo
We all get up again.”
#12 Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat
If you have kitten or cats in your house, you can introduce them to your child through this poem and make them act for your child or you can tell it by a picture. This is also one of the adored poems by children.
“Pussy cat, pussy cat,
Where have you been?
I’ve been to London to see the Queen
Pussy cat, pussy cat,
What did you do there?
I frightened a little mouse under the chair”
#13 Pat-a-Cake Baker’s Man
This nursery rhyme was published under mother goose melody in 1765. The poem includes clapping and action which will help your child in social engagement and doing activities. The poem is about cake and baker’s man.
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can.
Roll it and pat it and mark it with “B”
And put it in the oven for Baby and me.
#14 One Two Buckle My Shoe
This nursery rhyme is considered to be most popular for learning to count in preschools. The poem teaches counting as well as manners to your child. Here you go for it-
“One, two, buckle my shoe
Three, four, shut the door
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight
Nine, ten, a big fat hen
Eleven, twelve, men must delve
Thirteen, fourteen, maids are courting
Fifteen, sixteen, maids in the kitchen
Seventeen, eighteen, maids in waiting
Nineteen, twenty, my plate’s empty”
#15 Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty is one of the most popular and interesting nursery rhyme of all time. Make your child laugh with any silly act of yours or with some object. The poem has lots of theory behind it, it might be written for King Richard II of England for his defeat. However, the poem has great popularity.
“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.”
By the way, Humpty is an egg which is not mentioned in the poem anywhere.
Benefits of Nursery Rhymes:
- Language Development: Nursery rhymes introduce vocabulary and sentence structures in an engaging and memorable way.
- Cognitive Skills: Repetition and rhythm enhance memory and concentration.
- Motor Skills: Action-based rhymes like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” promote coordination and physical activity.
- Social Skills: Singing and reciting rhymes in groups fosters interaction and communication among preschoolers.
Why Nursery Rhymes Matter in Early Education
Nursery rhymes offer more than just entertainment; they play a significant role in a child’s educational foundation. From phonetics to math skills (through counting rhymes), these short, melodic stories boost a child’s cognitive and social growth.
At VSI International School, we understand the importance of introducing preschoolers to foundational skills through nursery rhymes. Our curriculum integrates these timeless rhymes to foster a love for language and music from an early age. VSI International School is renowned as one of the best CBSE schools in Jaipur, focusing on holistic education for all-round development. We believe in providing children with a nurturing environment where learning is fun and meaningful.
Let your child experience the joy of learning through songs and rhymes at VSI International School!
