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

Walking round the garden,
Like a teddy bear,
One step,
Two steps,
Tickly under there!

It's really important to introduce rhymes and finger play to very young children. This simple rhyme would be equally successful with tiny babies and toddlers. It is vital that practitioners ensure they are at the same level as the children - whether that is lying on the floor, supporting the child with comfy cushions or cuddling the child sitting on a comfy sofa. Eye contact and physical contact are essential for positive interactions with babies and young children.

Rhyme time

Many babies will be non-verbal - but that doesn't mean they aren't communicating! One-to-one experiences between a caring, interested practitioner, who is often the key person in the group setting, and a baby are very meaningful.

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