Nursery rhyme songs for kids

They’re catchy. They’re nostalgic. They’ve been passed down through generations (often with a few odd lines that no one really questions). We’re talking about nursery rhymes.

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From “Twinkle Twinkle” at bedtime, “Wheels on the Bus” during car rides, or “Incy Wincy Spider” in the bath (hopefully not literally), nursery rhymes are an unspoken part of raising little humans.

But beyond being earworms that get stuck in your head for days, they also serve a real purpose.

What exactly are nursery rhymes?

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Nursery rhymes are short, rhythmic poems or songs traditionally shared with young children.

Most nursery rhymes are only a few lines long and use repetition, rhyme, or alliteration to keep them playful and engaging.

Many of today’s well-known rhymes date back to the 18th or 19th centuries, and often originated as English folk verses. Some even began as political satire or coded social commentary.

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The benefits of nursery rhymes for child development

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1. Language and literacy

Nursery rhymes expose children to the sounds and patterns of language. The repetition and rhythm help develop phonemic awareness, the building blocks of reading. Songs like “Hey Diddle Diddle” or “Little Miss Muffet” introduce early vocabulary and sentence structure.

2. Memory and cognitive development

Thanks to their rhythm and structure, classic nursery rhymes are easy to memorise. Learning the sequence of lines boosts memory and recall skills, which later supports story comprehension, maths sequencing, and focus.

3. Motor skills

Action-based nursery songs like “Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” or “If You’re Happy and You Know It” help toddlers coordinate movement with language. They’re often used as a singing game that uses the whole body. This improves fine and gross motor skills and spatial awareness.

4. Emotional regulation

Rhymes can calm, soothe or energise. A familiar lullaby can ease separation anxiety, while a bouncy chant can elevate mood and lower tension. Repetition brings predictability, which is reassuring for young kids.

5. Social connection

Group rhymes and toddler songs teach turn-taking, teamwork and empathy. From passing a teddy in a circle to clapping along with friends, rhymes build early social-emotional skills.

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Popular nursery rhymes and their histories (with lyrics)

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Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Written as a poem in 1806 by Jane Taylor and set to a French melody. It’s been soothing babies (and stuck in parents’ heads) ever since.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

Hey Diddle Diddle

A nonsense rhyme from the 1700s. No one really knows what it means — but the chaos is half the fun.

Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Little Miss Muffet

Published in the early 1800s, possibly inspired by a real girl. Either way, spiders have been ruining snacks for centuries.

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
Along came a spider who sat down beside her,
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

Humpty Dumpty

First printed in the late 1700s — and fun fact: it never says he’s an egg. That twist came later, thanks to Lewis Carroll.

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.

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Dates back to the 1700s, with links to wool taxes. But really? It’s just a classic about sharing (and sheep).

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.

The Wheels on the Bus

Created in the 1930s as a group sing-along, and now a certified road trip survival anthem.

The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round,
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town.

Incy Wincy Spider

Also known as Itsy Bitsy. It’s been teaching kids resilience (and finger play coordination) since the early 1900s.

Incy Wincy spider climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain and washed the spider out.
Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain,
And Incy Wincy spider climbed up the spout again.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

First appeared in the 1850s. Sweet, soothing, and surprisingly philosophical if you think about it.

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Rooted in early 1700s folk songs, this one’s been moo-ing and quack-ing its way through childhoods ever since.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O,
With a moo moo here, and a moo moo there,
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo…

Hickory Dickory Dock

First printed in the 18th century, likely used to teach numbers and time. Also: mice. Always a win with kids.

Hickory dickory dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The clock struck one, the mouse ran down,
Hickory dickory dock.

Jack and Jill

Dates back to the 1700s, possibly referencing historical events, or just two kids who had a rough time fetching water.

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.

Ring a Ring o’ Roses

Often linked (somewhat dramatically) to the plague, though that’s debated. Either way, it’s been a circle-time staple for generations.

Ring-a-ring o’ roses,
A pocket full of posies,
A-tishoo! A-tishoo!
We all fall down!

Rock-a-bye Baby

Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetop,
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock.
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.

London Bridge is Falling Down

A centuries-old rhyme about the many times London Bridge… well, didn’t hold up. Kids still love the dramatic collapse.

London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Written in 1830 and inspired by a real girl and her actual lamb. It’s sweet, simple, and very committed to school attendance.

Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

No one’s sure where it started, but it’s been a bedtime favourite (and cautionary tale) for decades.

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Four little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped his head…
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

(Repeat down to…)

One little monkey jumping on the bed,
He fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Little Bo Peep

First published in the early 1800s. Lost her sheep, stayed chill. A great intro to trust and patience, or at least blind optimism.

Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep,
And doesn’t know where to find them;
Leave them alone and they’ll come home,
Wagging their tails behind them.

Pat-a-Cake

One of the oldest English nursery rhymes still in use, dating back to the 1600s.

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Pat it and prick it and mark it with B,
Put it in the oven for baby and me.

Pop Goes the Weasel

A cheeky 1800s tune with mysterious origins — possibly about poverty, pubs, or sewing. Either way, the pop! moment always lands.

Half a pound of tuppenny rice,
Half a pound of treacle.
That’s the way the money goes,
Pop! goes the weasel.

Brother John (Frère Jacques)

A French lullaby from the 18th century, translated into countless languages.

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping,
Brother John? Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing,
Ding, dang, dong. Ding, dang, dong.

I’m a Little Teapot

Written in the 1930s for a children’s dance class. Short, stout, and perfect for wiggly little bodies.

I’m a little teapot, short and stout,
Here is my handle, here is my spout.
When I get all steamed up, hear me shout,
Tip me over and pour me out!

Ten in the Bed

A classic countdown rhyme that teaches numbers, rhythm, and personal space — or the lack thereof.

There were ten in the bed and the little one said,
“Roll over! Roll over!”
So they all rolled over and one fell out…

(Continue countdown to one.)

A-Tisket, A-Tasket

A 19th-century nursery rhyme that Ella Fitzgerald turned into a jazz hit.

A-tisket, a-tasket,
A green and yellow basket,
I wrote a letter to my love,
And on the way I dropped it.

I dropped it, I dropped it,
Yes, on the way I dropped it,
A little boy he picked it up
And put it in his pocket.

A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea

Originally a clapping game, this one’s all rhythm and repetition, and ideal for burning off school holiday energy.

A sailor went to sea, sea, sea,
To see what he could see, see, see.
But all that he could see, see, see,
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea.

(Repeat the song, replacing ‘sea’ with ‘chop,’ ‘knee’, ‘floor’, and then combining all three!)

Bringing nursery rhymes into daily life

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Nursery rhymes are easy, familiar, and can bring calm, rhythm and fun to everyday moments. Here are a few ways to weave them in.

Mornings

Use short, upbeat rhymes to help ease into the day. They can make getting dressed, brushing teeth or leaving the house feel smoother (and less rushed).

Play time

Rhymes add rhythm and structure to free play. They help with focus, movement, and imagination, which is great when little ones need a gentle nudge in a new direction.

Transitions

For tricky moments like nappy changes, getting in the car or waiting in line, a quick rhyme can distract, reset or calm things down fast.

Bath time

Singing in the bath keeps things playful and predictable. It’s a great way to mix fun with learning and make bath time part of the wind-down routine.

Mealtimes

Rhymes help create rhythm around meals, especially with toddlers still learning to sit, stay and eat. They also make repetition feel fun (even when it’s the same snack again).

Bedtime

Familiar rhymes help signal that it’s time to slow down. They can be used after stories, before lights out, or even while cuddling to sleep.

On the go

Use nursery rhymes to pass the time during car rides, shopping trips or appointments. They bring comfort, keep little hands busy, and make the waiting easier.

Wrapping it up

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It’s no mystery why traditional nursery rhymes have stuck around. They’re simple, familiar, and still make children laugh (and occasionally topple over).

And if they get a smile, buy you a minute, or distract from an oncoming tantrum — that’s a win in our book.