Top 10 Nursery Rhymes for Kids to Learn and Sing Along
- janerine
- Aug 7
- 9 min read
Updated: Oct 28
the best way to learn and have fun at the same time! Kids Songs Learning Hub knows how helpful these classic songs can be for kids who are learning. Nursery rhymes are a parent's hidden weapon for making learning fun. They can help with language skills, spark creativity, and help kids bond.
These songs make memories that linger and teach kids important lessons, whether they sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" at bedtime or dance to "Wheels on the Bus" during playtime. We've put together the top 10 nursery rhymes for youngsters to learn and sing along with.
Each one comes with lyrics, intriguing facts, and suggestions on how to make them even more educational. Check out our collection to find out why kids and parents enjoy these sing-along songs for kids! Are you ready to sing? Check out these oldies and more informative kids songs on our Nursery Rhyme page.
Why Nursery Rhymes Are Good for Kids
As a mom, I've witnessed how nursery rhymes can make a youngster smile and make them want to learn more. These simple, catchy tunes are more than just fun; they are also good for kids who are learning. Kids' nursery rhymes help them learn new words and sounds in a fun way. I saw how my child picked up terms like "spout" and "climbed" without even trying when she started singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider." Experts believe that singing rhymes helps kids learn new words and sounds, which is a good thing for their reading skills.
Nursery rhymes are a way to connect with others outside of school. Singing the "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" with my kids while they had a bath changed a boring task into a fun time we all loved. These songs also help with rhythm and coordination. For example, the hand gestures for "Wheels on the Bus" are a good example. They're also great for group situations, like preschool, where youngsters learn to sing together and make friends. We enjoy how these kids' sing-along songs at Kids Songs Learning Hub make learning fun. Do you want additional ideas for songs that teach kids? For ideas, look at our Nursery Rhyme page!
The 10 Best Nursery Rhymes for Kids
1. Little Star, Twinkle Twinkle
This well-known nursery rhyme for kids is a nighttime favorite that always makes them feel better. Kids will love it because the words are easy to understand and the melody is gentle. I remember singing it to my daughter while she was looking up at the ceiling and thinking about stars. It's a song that makes you think about the stars at night and teaches you how to rhyme and beat.
Twinkle, twinkle, little night star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Why Kids Love It: The lyrics are easy to remember because they repeat, and the rhythm is soothing, making it great for bedtime or quiet times. It also teaches youngsters lyrical terminology, like "diamond in the sky," which helps them learn new words early on.
To teach kids about stars, point to the sky or use a star-shaped toy while you sing. To get older kids interested, ask them questions such, "What do you think stars are made of?" You can also have fun by doing something crafty, like making paper stars.
2. The Little Spider
Kids love the delightful hand gestures in "Itsy Bitsy Spider," a bright, interactive nursery song. My son loves to pretend that the spider is climbing up the spout, and he laughs every time the "rain" washes it away. It's a great method to mix music with movement.
The itsy bitsy spider crept up the water spout, then the rain came down and washed the spider away.
Why Kids Like It: The hand movements (fingers ascending, wriggling for rain) make it a full-body experience that helps with motor skills. The narrative of the spider's determination also teaches resilience in a subtle way.
Tips for teaching: Have students act out the rain with wiggling hands or copy how the spider climbs with their fingers. Use it to teach kids about things like rain and sun. To make it more entertaining, draw a spider and a spout on paper and act out the story.
3. The Wheels on the Bus
This happy song for kids is a big favorite at preschools and in the vehicle. When we sing about the bus's exploits, my kids can't help but yell, "All through the town!" Kids may easily join in because of how it repeats.
The wheels on the bus move round and round,
round and round, round and round,
all through the town.
Why Kids Like It: Kids like the different sounds (honk, swish, beep) and movements (rolling hands, swaying). It teaches how to keep time and shows kids things they see every day, including buses and wipers.
To help you learn, act out each stanza with gestures, such rolling your hands for wheels or copying wipers. Use toy buses to make it more fun, or talk about different kinds of cars to help kids learn new words. For a video of this tune, go to our Nursery Rhyme website!
4. MacDonald the Farmer
Kids love to sing "Old MacDonald" and make mooing, clucking, and quacking sounds. My kids adore contributing their own animal sounds to the song. It seems like a trip to the farm.
Old MacDonald had a farm,( E-I-E-I-OO,
and on that farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O.
There was a moo moo here and a moo moo there.
Kids love it because the animal sounds are enjoyable and make them want to sing along with the easy-to-sing "E-I-E-I-O." It's a terrific way to teach kids the names and sounds of animals.
Tips for Learning: Use photos or toys of animals to match noises to them. To get kids' imaginations going, tell them to make up their own animals for the farm. It's great for singing with a group in preschool.
5. Baa Baa Black Sheep
This beautiful nursery rhyme for kids has been around for generations and is easy to remember. My kid loves to sing it while pretending to shear sheep, and it's a terrific way to teach her colors and numbers.
A part of the lyrics: "Baa, baa, black sheep, do you have any wool?"
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full.
Why Kids Love It: The lyrics are brief and easy to remember, and the story about the sheep is cute. It teaches how to count (three bags) and basic social duties (master and dame).
Learning Tips: Use cotton balls as "wool" for a hands-on exercise, or count "bags" with toy sacks. Talk about colors by asking kids to picture sheep in different colors, like red or blue.
6. Five Little Ducks
My youngsters appreciate the fun story of "Five Little Ducks," a counting rhyme. When we sing about the ducks heading out to play, they can't wait to quack along and count down the ducks. It's a great approach to make math entertaining.
Five small ducks went out one day,
across the hill and far away.
Mother duck cried, "Quack, quack, quack, quack."
But just four small ducks came back.
Use your fingers or toy ducks to count down with each verse. To get students to think critically, ask them to guess how many ducks will come back. For even more fun, play a counting game or make a duck-themed craft.
7. Humpty Dumpty
This short yet famous nursery rhyme for kids tells the funny story of an egg's bad luck. My youngster loves to yell "had a great fall!" while acting out Humpty's fall, which makes for a lively reading time.
A little bit of the song: "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall."
"All of the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again."
Why Kids Like It: The big "fall" plus the simple rhyme make it easy to recall. It teaches kids how stories are put together and makes them think about who Humpty is.
To help you learn, pretend that a toy egg or pillow falls off a chair. Talk about shapes (such how eggs are ovals) or how to be careful to teach a lesson. Combine with an activity where kids paint eggs for fun.
8. Mary Had a Small Lamb
"Mary Had a Little Lamb" is a charming song for kids to sing along to that offers a narrative about friendship. My daughter loves to pretend to be Mary with her plush lamb, which she takes with her everywhere. It's great for teaching how to tell stories and feel for others.
Mary had a tiny lamb,
little lamb, tiny lamb.
Its fleece was white as snow.
Why Kids Like It: The soft music and story about a girl and her pet are easy for kids to relate to. It also teaches terms like "fleece" and "snow" that describe things.
Learning Tip: Use a plush animal to show how Mary and her lamb went to school. Talk about friends or pets to help kids learn how to deal with their feelings. To make the story better, sing it at story time.
9. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
This fun nursery rhyme is a favorite in our house since it has a calming rhythm and makes us feel like we're working together. It feels like we're all in a boat together when we sing it in rounds with my kids. It's a fun way to bond.
A line from the song:
"Row, row, row your boat,"
Gently down the stream,
happily, merrily, merrily,
Life is just a dream.
Kids love it because the brief, repeated lyrics are easy to learn, and singing in rounds is a great challenge for older kids. It helps with rhythm and coordination and gets kids thinking about boats and rivers.
10. If You're Happy and You Know It
This lively nursery rhyme for toddlers is all about showing how you feel via song and dance. My kids love to clap, stomp, and shout "hooray!" when we sing it. It's like a little dance party every time we do.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands,
If you’re joyful and you know it, clap your hands,
If you’re joyful and you know it, then your face will surely show it,
Clap your hands if you know you're joyful.
Why Kids Love It: The clapping, stomping, and shouting make it very engaging, which helps with both physical skills and expressing emotions. In places with a lot of people, like preschool, it gets a lot of people excited.
Using nursery rhymes to learn and have fun
Nursery rhymes for kids aren't simply fun songs; they're also useful for learning and playing. I've used them with my own kids many times. I like to use them during my regular activities. My daughter likes to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" before bed to help her relax, and "Wheels on the Bus" makes vehicle drives into a sing-along experience. Everyone has a better time when these tunes are playing during transitions. Parents, try adding rhymes to certain times of the day, such "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" during bath time to make it a fun routine.
Nursery rhymes are great instructional tunes for kids in preschool or groups. Songs like "Five Little Ducks" teach kids how to count, and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" helps them improve their motor skills by making hand motions. When we act out "Humpty Dumpty" with a plush animal tumbling from a chair, I've seen kids become excited. It's play that teaches! You may even make activities, like a scavenger search for things that are mentioned in "Old MacDonald," like toy animals. Try making paper stars for "Twinkle Twinkle" or cotton ball lambs for "Baa Baa Black Sheep" to get kids more involved. These exercises help you think outside the box and reinforce the songs' messages. Check out our Baby Sleep Tips and Soothing Music website for more engaging sing-along songs for kids to keep the learning continuing!
Conclusion
Kids' nursery rhymes are more than just tunes; they may help you learn, make you laugh, and spend time with your kids that you'll always remember. These top 10 nursery rhymes are great for kids to learn new words, practice counting, and express themselves through music and movement.
From the calming tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to the joyful, energetic song "If You're Happy and You Know It," they are all great. As a parent, I've witnessed how these kids' sing-along songs can convert ordinary times into memories. For example, when my kids laugh along to "Wheels on the Bus" or play out "Humpty Dumpty."
We love sharing these classic songs at Kids Songs Learning Hub to provide joy and learning.
So get your kids together, sing, and do the things we've suggested! What nursery rhyme does your youngster like best? Share your thoughts in the comments below or check out our Nursery Rhyme site for more fun and instructive tunes for kids.
FREE Printable Nursery Rhyme Lyrics 📄 Perfect for Sing-Alongs! 👇
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