OK, so not all the rhymes featured on this website are English of origin (with some finding their way over from Australia, France, the USA and beyond), but they are all an integral part of our childhood cultures.
We don't exclusively feature nursery rhymes, either; you will find a variety of fairy tales and songs, too.
All the pages featured on this site are 'printer friendly', and we encourage you to share the rhymes on this website with any children in your care.
The following is an extract from the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia:
A nursery rhyme is a traditional song or poem taught to young children, originally in the nursery. Learning such verse assists in the development of vocabulary, and several examples deal with rudimentary counting skills. It also encourages children to enjoy music. In addition, specific actions, motions, or dances are often associated with particular songs.
Many cultures (though not all; see below) feature children's songs and verses that are passed down by oral tradition from one generation to the next (either from parent to child or from older children to younger children). In the English language, the term nursery rhyme generally refers to those of European origin, and the best known examples are English and originated in or since the 17th century. Their origins were possibly a form of oral political cartoon from an era when free speech could get the speaker imprisoned. Nursery rhymes, however, are often violent in nature; for example, in "Jack and Jill", Jack fell down and "Broke his crown"—meaning breaking his skull.
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