Songs and Rhymes

Sarah Neville, Registered Childminder, has produced an e-book all about songs and rhymes, with a section devoted to following the EYFS curriculum while planning activities relating to popular children’s songs.

I'd like to thank Sarah for sharing her experiences with us:

'All children love singing – partially hearing and deaf children particularly benefit from hearing or feeling the rhythms of music and it is excellent for children in wheelchairs or those who use walking aids to practice their directional and steering techniques by moving rhythmically to songs and rhymes.

I have some lovely teaching mitts for popular children’s songs such as ‘5 Little Ducks’ and finger puppets for songs and nursery rhymes such as ‘Baa, baa black sheep’ and ‘Dingle, dangle scarecrow’, ‘Humpty dumpty’, ‘Twinkle, Twinkle little Star’ and ‘Incy Wincy spider’. All of these encourage song, dance and movement and I have found children love interacting with them. I put them in a bag from which the children can self-select. They choose a puppet and we sing the song and during the song they take ownership of that puppet, showing the other children in the group how to move or jump or dance. It encourages children’s self-confidence, raises their self-esteem and helps them make relationships with others in the group, thereby fulfilling many of the EYFS ‘Personal, Social and Emotional Development’ learning and development criteria, in one fun activity.'