Are there benefits to singing and rhyming verse for children?
Posted: May 13, 2020 Filed under: Books, Children's Books, Fairy Tales, Fiction, Growing Bookworms, Literacy, Parenting, Reading | Tags: Growing Bookworms, Literacy, Reading, Rhyming, Robbie Cheadle, Singing, Writing to be Read 48 Comments
Growing Bookworms
I love nursery rhymes and children’s poetry. When my boys were younger we used to listen to children’s songs and nursery rhymes in the car wherever we went. We used to sing along and I even bought them bells and shakers so that they could join in the music making.
One of Gregory’s favourite nursery rhymes was Aiken Drum, a popular Scottish folk song and nursery rhyme. It is believed to have its origins in a Jacobite song about the Battle of Sherifmuir (1715). You can listen to a version of it here:
I find nursery rhymes very fascinating, particularly when I probe the origins of some of them. Ring a ring o’ Roses, for example, is alleged to have originated from the black plague. A rosy rash was a symptom of the plague and posies of herbs were carried by people as protection and to cover up the smell of the disease. Sneezing or coughing was a symptom once the disease had progressed and then the sick person usually died and so literally “fell down” dead.
I have often wondered, however, whether there are any specific and acknowledged benefits to be derived by small children from listening to nursery rhymes and being read to in rhyming verse. If I think of Dr Seuss books, they are all in rhyming verse and they are always punted as being a really good choice of early readers.
I decided a little bit of investigation was in order, especially, as my own books, co-authored with Michael, are written in rhyming verse. The experts listed the following benefits to singing nursery rhymes to your children and reading to them in rhyming verse:
- Children love the sound of their parents voices, so singing by a caregiver calms and sooths a small child;
- Children enjoy the changes and variation in tone that result from singing and reading in rhyming verse. This helps inspire a love of language in children, thereby naturally increasing their desire to read and write;
- Rhymes help children learn to identify the different sounds that make up a word, how to play with words, change them and pair them together which greatly aids learning how to read;
- When reading in rhyming verse, most readers tend to speak clearly and slowly. This is beneficial to children as they are able to hear the way the words are formed properly;
- Songs and rhymes have a positive impact on children’s language and literacy development;
- Children that participate in singing and telling of nursery rhymes often learn to speak more quickly;
- Rhyming teaches children about word families;
- Rhyming teaches children the patterns and structures in spoken and written language;
- Rhyming helps children learn how to spell as they realise the words that sound similar often share common letter sequences;
- The repetition of rhymes helps build memory capabilities;
- Nursery rhymes or other rhyming stories and tales help preserve your culture and create a bond between generations; children, parents and grandparents; and
- Nursery rhymes and rhyming verse help children to hear a steady beat which researchers believe results in better reading skills.
I thought this was rather an impressive list of benefits and nursery rhymes and stories told in rhyming verse are such fun. So dust off your old nursery rhyme books and grab your Dr Seuss and other rhyming verse books and get going.
Happy reading and singing!
Just as an aside, Puff the magic Dragon is one of the nicest rhyming verse story books I’ve ever read.
About Robbie Cheadle
Hello, my name is Robbie, short for Roberta. I am an author with six published children’s picture books in the Sir Chocolate books series for children aged 2 to 9 years old (co-authored with my son, Michael Cheadle), one published middle grade book in the Silly Willy series and one published preteen/young adult fictionalised biography about my mother’s life as a young girl growing up in an English town in Suffolk during World War II called While the Bombs Fell (co-authored with my mother, Elsie Hancy Eaton). All of my children’s book are written under Robbie Cheadle and are published by TSL Publications.
I have recently branched into adult and young adult horror and supernatural writing and, in order to clearly differential my children’s books from my adult writing, I plan to publish these books under Roberta Eaton Cheadle. My first supernatural book published in that name, Through the Nethergate, is now available.
I have participated in a number of anthologies:
- Two short stories in #1 Amazon bestselling anthology, Dark Visions, a collection of horror stories edited by Dan Alatorre;
- Three short stories in Death Among Us, an anthology of murder mystery stories, edited by Stephen Bentley;
- Three short stories in #1 Amazon bestselling anthology, Nightmareland, a collection of horror stories edited by Dan Alatorre; and
- Two short stories in Whispers of the Past, an anthology of paranormal stories, edited by Kaye Lynne Booth.
I also have a book of poetry called Open a new door, with fellow South African poet, Kim Blades.
Find Robbie Cheadle
Blog: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
Blog: robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com
Goodreads: Robbie Cheadle – Goodreads
Twitter: BakeandWrite
Instagram: Robbie Cheadle – Instagram
Facebook: Sir Chocolate Books
Want to be sure not to miss any of Robbie’s “Growing Bookworms” segments? Subscribe to Writing to be Read for e-mail notifications whenever new content is posted or follow WtbR on WordPress. If you found it interesting or entertaining, please share.
Writing to be Read 
This is a great post, Robbie. I’m thrilled to know that at least I did something right with my kids, because I sang to them all the time, especially on road trips.
When recommending rythming books for children, don’t leave out Sir Chocoloate! They are right up there with the best of the rythming verse stories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Kaye. Kids do love to sing. Thank you for your kind comment about our Sir Choc books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of my fondest memories of my grandmother was saying nursery rhymes at nap time in the afternoons. That was how she got me to lay quietly. We would recite nursery rythms until I grew tired and fell asleep. I would add good memories to the benefits of rythm and song, too.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Robbie's inspiration and commented:
I am over at Writing to be Read with a post about the benefits of singing and rhyming verse for children.
LikeLiked by 1 person
it is fun, and frightening, to read the backstory of some nursery rhymes. I agree that there are many benefits of reading nursery rhymes…
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is, Jim. I was thinking of doing a series of posts about the origins of nursery rhymes. I’ll dust the idea off and relook at it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I would enjoy such a series because the few that I have read were quite interesting.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reblogged this on Stevie Turner and commented:
Some interesting research done by Robbie Cheadle here about the benefits of teaching nursery rhymes to children.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for sharing, Stevie. I really appreciate it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great post – have re-blogged.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Stevie. I am glad you enjoyed this.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for visiting and sharing Stevie. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The singing and rhyming are hugely important for all brand especially growing and aging brains!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Annette, I read an article about how rhyming verse helps slow down dementia. I have been encouraging my mom to read poetry and nursery rhymes ever since.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Absolutely!
Huge benefits to rhyming verse and sung stories!!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Ritu. I am glad you also find these beneficial in your dealings with your school children.
LikeLiked by 1 person
💜
LikeLiked by 2 people
Robbie, it is an important post. Hopefully the singing and rhyming continues
in spite of other entertainments.
Like so many here I also sang for my children and read. I also just now thought how much I remember of the songs my mother sang every day and those my father played.
It has both emotional and intellectual benefits.
miriam
LikeLiked by 2 people
HI Miriam, thank you for visiting. I am so glad to hear your lovely memories. I always sang to my babies and we loved nursery rhymes and dancing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sang to my little brothers and later to my children. There is something comforting for a child to hear singing. I have a book about the origins of nursery rhymes. Fascinating. A great post.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My babies both had colic, Darlene. They cried continuously for three hours every night form about 5.30pm to about 8.30pm. I used to walk around our lounge and sing to them. It kept me sane. You are a wonderful mother and sister.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Robbie, my son had colic, too, only his hit from about 2 -5 a.m., but I did the same thing! If the way the song quieted him measured his preferences, he liked Ringo Starr’s Snookeroo best.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooooh, your colic hours were way worse than mine. You must have been exhausted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was working at a resturaunt and didn’t get off until one or two in the morning, so his hit just about the time I got home, but I always found the energy to walk and sing somewhere. Sometimes I could get away with sitting in the rocker and rocking while I sang, but the singing was always paramont.
LikeLike
Nice to see Robbie here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, John.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Kids like rhyme, rhythm, music, and stories. If anyone can find a way to combine them all, it’s going to be a home run with children.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am trying, Pete. My children’s books are all in rhyming verse. It is a pity they are so expensive on Amazon US. Have a great weekend, Pete, and happy writing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Benefits abound… Wonderful post and rhyming poetry analysis, Robbie! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Bette. Rhyming verse stories were definitely a bit hit with my boys and they are both readers now.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think you’re absolutely right, Robbie. (I remember Peter, Paul, & Mary singing Puff the Magic Dragon when I was a little girl.) Hugs on the wing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love Puff the Magic Dragon, Teagan. Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent post Robbie. I absolutely think rhyming is good for everyone, not just kids. 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Debby. It is supposed to be good for preventing Alzheimers and dementia. I hope writing it counts too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too Robbie. And perfect for dementia sufferers! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I enjoyed reading what the experts have to say about the benefits of nursery rhymes and songs for children. I experienced all of those benefits as a child.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That is lovey to hear, Liz. I don’t remember my mom reading to me at all, but I taught myself to read at four so maybe I just don’t remember it. My grandmother used to read the Little House series to me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My mom read to us when we were very little; then my dad took over. He read to me until I entered ninth grade. (Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes as I entered my tween years.)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I also read with Michael until he was 12 years old. Then his taste in books became it bit to irreconcilable with my taste and he started reading on his own.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A natural parting, but the bond forged through reading together stays strong.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree, Robbie. There are many benefits to sharing nursery rhymes with children. I have never worried too much about the supposed origins. I view them as fun nonsense rhymes. I don’t believe children need to know the history. Adults can discover it for themselves if they are that way inclined. I agree with you about Puff the Magic Dragon. Your version looks the same as mine. Does yours have the CD? What a magic song.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Norah, my copy of Puff does have the CD and we loved it. A great story and book. I have enjoyed researching the origins myself as an adult, but was never concerned about my children been scared or worried by a nursery rhyme.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Puff is a gorgeous book and song. I agree. I agree with you about nursery rhymes too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love this post. I read and sang nursery rhymes to my kids and to my grandchildren (they don’t worry about off key singing). Yesterday when my grandchildren were here and I started singing Baa Baa Black Sheep to the 18 month old, he stopped everything, sat down and smiled. It was priceless.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Carla. I am a huge nursery rhyme fan, Carla. I used to sing them to my boys all the time. Your grandson sounds so cute. My niece is 18 months old and she is a delight.
LikeLiked by 2 people
[…] a balance of parental approval, “Sir Chocolate and the Valentine Toffee Cupid“, the benefits of singing and rhyming verse for children, “Teaching Children to Read“, “Introducing Non-Fiction to Children“, […]
LikeLike