What is the practice?
This practice guide includes nursery rhymes and rhyming activities that help toddlers learn to hear different sounds and recognize that, though two words sound similar, the change of just one letter changes the meaning of a word (as in cat to hat). Putting words together that rhyme in a silly little ditty is a fun activity.
What does the practice look like?
Making the connection between sounds and words happens every time there is repetition of identical or similar ending sounds in two or more words. This is called a rhyme. Silly word rhymes that are created for young children are often referred to as nursery rhymes. A child repeating a rhyme such as, “Twinkle, twinkle, little star / How I wonder what you are” is an example of a nursery rhyme.
How do you do the practice?
Everyday life presents different opportunities for playing rhyming games. These include repeating, singing, or making up rhymes as part of daily activities. By searching the Internet for rhymes for toddlers or preschool rhymes or your library’s items catalogue, you will locate rhymes for various activities (for example, bath time, working in the garden, etc.) and occasions (for example, birthdays and holidays).
How do you know the practice worked?
- Is your toddler saying the rhymes with you?
- Does your toddler smile or laugh when rhyming?
- Does your toddler want to make up new rhymes?
- Start by identifying rhymes that are about things your toddler is interested in or enjoys. For example if your child likes animals, “Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fddle…” might be one she would enjoy. The more your child enjoys the content of the rhyme, the more likely she will say the rhyme with you.
- Rhymes can happen anywhere. You can make them up as you walk down the street (for example, “Step one, step two, look at my shoe”). You and your toddler can make up or repeat rhymes during daily activities, like “Rub a dub, dub, two men in a tub” during bath time.
- Don’t worry about getting the rhymes “right.” Young children just enjoy the sounds they are making, and the sillier the rhymes are, the better.
- As your toddler gets used to doing rhymes with you, let her pick or start the rhyme she wants to do next. Let your child make up a rhyme all alone or with a little help from you. Remember, it is the fun of rhyming, not whether it makes sense, that motivates her to continue rhyming.
- Encourage your toddler’s efforts to participate in rhymes with you or to make one up
Take a look at more rhymes and rhythm
Walkin’ and Rhymin’
Taking a walk through the mall with his mom is one of 27-month-old Damian’s favorite activities. While walking along, his mom often begins a silly rhyme: “One, two, buckle my shoe.” Damian repeats it while looking up and smiling at his mom. Now his mom says, “One, two, buckle my shoe; three, four, close the door,” followed by Damian’s repeating the two lines. As they continue to add lines, “Five, six, pick up sticks; seven, eight, lay them straight; nine, ten, a big fat hen,” Da- mian sings out the words in unison with his mom.
Rub-a-dub-dub!
Taking a bath is something 22-month-old Anna en- joys, but sometimes it is hard to quit playing with her favorite toy at bath time. Anna’s dad helps with the transition by using a silly rhyme to let her know it is time for a bath. Dad says, “Rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a tub, and who do you think they be; Anna, the baker, and the candlestick maker, put them in all three.” He scoops up Anna and off they go together singing and laughing “Rub-a-dub-dub.”
Rhythmic Learning
Rhyming is also about rhythm. Using rhythm while doing a rhyme will help in the learning process. Dylan, a 2-year-old, has moder- ate hearing loss. Dylan’s mom uses her favorite rhymes with her son and uses movement to help him feel the rhythm in time with the words. Dylan loves the rhymes when his mom rocks him back and forth to the rhythm or helps him clap his hands to the rhythm as she holds him in her lap and chants their favorite rhymes.
