Nursery World - Learning and Development: Rhymes for birth to threes

Jack in a box

Jack in a box

Open the lid and up he pops!

Nursery rhymes, finger rhymes and word plays are a very important part of the lives of babies and young children. Practitioners need to develop rhymes that can be shared with babies and that can continue to be explored as babies grow into more mobile toddlers.

Rhyme time

- At its simplest level, you can chant the rhyme softly to the baby. Make sure that you are both comfortable while you share the rhyme. You could sit on a sofa or comfy chair, holding or cuddling the baby gently. Alternatively, the baby can be lying on a soft rug, in a bouncy chair or propped up safely on cushions. Wherever you choose to settle yourselves, it is essential that you maintain eye contact with the baby and exaggerate your facial expressions as you sing the rhyme.

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