How to Use Storytelling Toys to Teach Your Child Their First Nursery Rhymes

Hello, my name is Janerine Watson and I'm the mom behind Kids Songs Learning Hub. I've spent many afternoons with my three little ones using storytelling toys to turn simple baby rhymes into full-on adventures. When a finger puppet "climbs" up my arm during "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and my child laughs and tries to replicate every move, it's the best feeling in the world.

It's not just fun; it's one of the best and most fun ways I've found to help them improve their verbal abilities, coordination, and creativity.

As a parent and a provider of early learning music material, these activities was tested the same way many parents do: on the living room floor, during real play, when kids are curious, or when they are distracted. I don't just rely on theory; I pay attention to what keeps people's attention, what makes them want to copy what they see, and what makes a basic rhyme into something that teaches them something. 

Over the years, I've also drawn from guidance shared by early childhood organisations such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which emphasises hands-on, play-based learning as a foundation for language development.

In this expanded guide (straight from our daily playtime routines and backed by what I've learned from early childhood resources), I'll dive deeper into why storytelling toys are so powerful for teaching nursery rhymes, the real developmental benefits I've witnessed in my own kids, my go-to toy recommendations (including budget-friendly DIYs), detailed step-by-step examples with more rhymes, practical tips to avoid common pitfalls, and even some real-life stories from our family. This is perfect for busy parents, homeschoolers, or anyone wanting to make classics like "Itsy Bitsy Spider," "Five Little Monkeys," or "Wheels on the Bus" even more engaging and educational.

Why Storytelling Toys Make Nursery Rhymes More Effective

Nursery rhymes are already fantastic for early learning—they naturally build phonological awareness (recognising sounds and patterns in language), expand vocabulary through repetition, and strengthen memory. But when you add storytelling toys like puppets or plush figures, everything levels up. Kids shift from passive listening to active participation: they touch, move, and interact with the characters, creating a multi-sensory experience that makes the rhymes stick better.

From what I've seen (and what experts in early childhood education say), puppets help kids see the story, use their imaginations, and feel more confident, especially for shy kids who might not want to sing alone but adore "speaking" through a puppet. This fun way of doing rhyme time makes it an interactive story, which helps kids understand better and express their feelings. .

From what I've personally observed, toddlers engage longer when they can "become" the character. A shy child who won't sing aloud will happily whisper through a puppet — and that counts as expressive language development. This aligns with early learning research showing that symbolic play supports communication, confidence, and comprehension.

Key Benefits for Your Child's Development

These sessions have helped us win a lot of things in our home over the past few years:

• Language and Vocabulary Growth: When you connect words like "spout," "wheels," or "baa" to a toy character, they make sense.

• Phonological Awareness and Pre-Reading Skills: Repetition + visual props strengthen sound recognition and prepare kids for reading.

• Motor Skills and Coordination: Using motions to move puppets around helps with both fine and gross motor skills.

• Emotional and Social Skills: Puppets enable a secure environment for the exploration of emotions (joy, astonishment, sorrow) and the practice of turn-taking. 

• Memory and Sequencing: Visual cues help kids recall the order of events in the rhyme.

• Creativity and Imagination: My 3-year-old now invents new endings to rhymes, turning them into her own stories!

As a parent, I was most amazed by how quickly storytelling toys made kids recall things. It didn't take long for my kids to go from just copying words to predicting lines, correcting the puppet, and placing things in the right order on their own.

  These are early literacy skills that speech and education professionals consistently identify as pre-reading foundations.

These benefits match what many parenting and education resources describe—nursery rhymes with props foster literacy foundations, social skills, and lifelong love for music and words.

Best Storytelling Toys for Nursery Rhymes

We prioritise safe, simple options for ages 1–5. Here are our family favorites:

• Finger Puppets: We utilize animal sets for counting rhymes or agricultural games that are very easy for young hands.

• Hand Puppets: Great for bigger, more expressive play.

• Plush Toys or Felt Figures: Soft and cuddly for telling stories in a soft way.

DIY Options: Sock puppets are our favorite cheap way to have fun. They're simple to make, easy to customize, and get your creative juices flowing!

If you're choosing toys for toddlers and preschoolers, safety and simplicity matter more than perfection. We intentionally avoid battery-operated toys during rhyme time because open-ended props encourage imagination rather than passive entertainment a principle strongly supported in play-based learning research.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Teach Nursery Rhymes with Toys

If you want to use story toys, I think you should do so at quiet, regular times, like before bed, after a nap, or during morning play. Toddlers remember things better when they hear the same songs over and over again because they associate them with safety, familiarity, and learning.

1. Choose a Simple Rhyme: Pick short, action-packed ones.

2. Introduce the Toy :  Get them excited by naming and revealing the character.

3. Sing Slowly with Actions: Model first to show how it's done.

4. Encourage Participation: Let your child take over the toy.

5. Repeat and Vary:  Sing it several times, then let them lead or add twists.

6. Extend the Play: Ask questions like "What happens next?" or invent new verses.

Example 1: Itsy Bitsy Spider

• Toy Needed: Spider finger puppet.

• How We Do It at Home: I climb the puppet up my arm, wiggle for rain, circle for sun—then hand it over. My toddler's face lights up every time!

This teaches weather concepts and fine motor skills.

Five Little Monkeys - Finger Puppet Set – Chasing Whimsies

Example 2: Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

• Toy Needed: Set of monkey finger puppets.

• How We Do It at Home: We line them up, make them "jump," and dramatically remove one each time. The head-shaking doctor part is hilarious!

Ideal for counting backward and gentle safety lessons.

Wheels on The Bus with Finger Puppets Quiet Book ...

Example 3: Old MacDonald Had a Farm

• Toy Needed: Farm animal puppets.

• How We Do It at Home: Kids pick animals, we take turns making sounds—it gets wonderfully chaotic!

Builds animal vocabulary and sound imitation.

Bonus Example 4: Wheels on the Bus

• Toy Needed: Bus or vehicle hand puppet + passenger figures (or finger puppets).

• How We Do It at Home: We "drive" the puppet bus, make horn sounds ("beep beep beep!"), and act out doors opening/closing, people waving, babies crying ("wah wah wah"). My 3-year-old loves adding silly variations like "the dinosaurs on the bus go roar roar roar!"

This one is fantastic for transportation words, actions, and social sounds.

Across all of these rhymes, I've noticed the same pattern: repetition paired with movement creates confidence. Toddlers may not sing the first time or the fifth  but when they suddenly act out the rhyme independently, you know the learning has landed.

Common Mistakes Parents Make (And How to Avoid Them)

From trial and error in our home:

• Overloading with too many toys → Start with 1–2; add more as they get comfortable.

• Rushing the pace → Go slow—toddlers need time to process and imitate.

• Forcing participation → If they're shy, just model enthusiastically; they'll join when ready.

• Skipping repetition → Repeat 5–10 times per session for better retention.

• Ignoring safety → Always supervise small parts.

I've discovered that each child makes progress in their own way. Some people jump in right once, while others watch silently for weeks before joining in. They are both learning. By respecting each child's speed, you create trust and keep rhyme time fun instead than stressful. 

Tips for Success and Safety From Our Family

• To keep people's attention, keep sessions brief (5 to 15 minutes).

• Check for choking hazards with under-3s.

• Make it routine: ours is post-nap or before bed.

• Make your energy seem bigger to get their attention.

• DIY adds magic: try sock puppets for a personal touch!

Don't try to be perfect, says one busy mom to another. If you forget words, you can make them up. Don't let the line go, even if it seems silly. Kids learn best when adults are around, having fun, and not in a hurry.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

At what age should I start?

We started watching at 6 months and playing with puppets at 18 months.

No budget for fancy toys?

Finger-drawn faces or sock puppets work great and feel extra unique.

How many rhymes at once?

Stick to 3–5 favorites to master them before expanding.

It is important to talk to a trained pediatrician or speech-language pathologist if you are ever worried about speech delays or communication problems.  Music and storytelling toys are supportive tools, not replacements for professional care when needed.

What makes storytelling toys so powerful isn't the toy itself it's the shared moment. When a child feels seen, heard, and invited into play, language learning becomes joyful rather than instructional. That joy is what keeps children coming back to songs again and again.

Storytelling toys have transformed our nursery rhyme time into cherished bonding moments filled with giggles, learning, and creativity. If you start with just one line tonight, people will beg you to do it again and again. How does your family like to play with rhymes the most? Comment below!

Written by Janerine Watson — certified early childhood educator, children's music creator, and founder of Kids Songs Learning Hub. With over a decade of hands-on experience working with young children and raising three of her own, Janerine is passionate about helping families turn everyday moments into meaningful learning through music, movement, and play.

Disclaimer:

This piece is only meant to teach and inform; it is not meant to replace professional medical, developmental, or speech-language advice. Each child grows and changes at their own speed. If you are worried about your child's speech, communication, or developmental milestones, you should talk to a doctor or early childhood expert. Kids Songs Learning Hub does not offer therapy or medical care.