Before tablets and television became go-to entertainment for children, parents relied on nursery rhymes to keep them calm and engaged. While they're not as popular today as they were in the past, nursery rhymes and lullabies are still a classic part of childhood. Most have been passed down for many generations—and some have even existed for centuries! They usually contain simple wording and repetitive phrasing that's easy to remember and recite.
If you've been wanting to share some popular nursery rhymes and lullabies with your child, you've come to the right place. In this article, we've rounded up several of our favorites. So whether you're hoping to sing as your toddler drifts to sleep or add some entertainment to bath time, you're sure to find an old favorite here!
The 14 Best Bedtime Songs for Kids
Benefits of Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies
It's always great when something fun is also beneficial—and that's the case with nursery rhymes. “Lullabies and nursery rhymes have several benefits for young people,” says Vanessa Osorio, sleep expert and sleep health content specialist at Sleep Advisor. Some of the many advantages of nursery rhymes and lullabies are listed below.
They strengthen the emotional connection between parents and their baby.They stimulate language and cognitive development, helping toddlers learn language and build vocabulary.They teach kids to express their emotions in a healthy way.They promote better sleep.The repetition demonstrates how language works and improves memory, concentration, and listening skills.They let kids recognize similarities in words that rhyme or start with the same type of sound.They introduce the idea of storytelling, which assists with creative development. It also teaches kids to communicate with others and make friends in social situations.
Keep reading for bedtime nursery rhyme lyrics, as well as the verses to your favorite children's lullabies.
The Age-by-Age Guide to Better Bedtimes
Are You Sleeping (Frère Jaques)
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping?Brother John, Brother John?Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing,Ding ding dong, ding ding dong.
French Version:Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques,Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines,Ding ding dong, ding ding dong.
Hush Little Baby
Hush little baby, don't say a word,Papa's gonna buy you a mocking bird.And if that mocking bird won't sing,Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.And if that diamond ring turns brass,Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass.And if that looking glass gets broke,Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat.And if that billy goat won't pull,Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull.And if that cart and bull turn over,Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover.And if that dog named Rover won't bark,Papa's gonna buy you a horse and cart.And if that horse and cart fall down,You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
Itsy-Bitsy Spider
The itsy-bitsy spiderClimbed up the water spout.Down came the rainAnd washed the spider out.Out came the sunAnd dried up all the rain.And the itsy-bitsy spiderClimbed up the spout again.
Little Boy Blue
Little boy blue, come blow your horn,The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn.Where is the little boy who looks after the sheep?He's under the haystack, fast asleep.
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
Baa, baa, black sheep,Have you any wool?Yes sir, yes sir,Three bags full.One for the master,One for the dame,And one for the little boyWho lives down the lane.Baa, baa, black sheep,Have you any wool?Yes sir, yes sir,Three bags full.
I'm a Little Tea Pot
I'm a little teapot short and stout,Here is my handle, here is my spout,When I get all steamed up hear me shout,Tip me over and pour me out.
Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.All the king's horses,And all the king's men,Couldn't put Humpty together again.
Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick
Jack be nimble,Jack be quick,Jack jump over the candlestick.
The Cat and the Fiddle
Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle,The cow jumped over the moon,The little dog laughed to see such sport,And the dish ran away with the spoon.
Little Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet,Eating her curds and whey.There came a big spider,He sat down beside her.And frightened Miss Muffet away!
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,How does your garden grow?With silver bells and cockle shells,And pretty maids all in a row.
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Mary had a little lamb,Little lamb, little lamb,Mary had a little lamb,Its fleece was white as snow.Everywhere that Mary went,Mary went, Mary went,Everywhere that Mary went,The lamb was sure to go.It followed her to school one day,School one day, school one day,It followed her to school one day,Which was against the rules.It made the children laugh and play,Laugh and play, laugh and play,It made the children laugh and play,To see a lamb in school.
Rock a Bye Baby
Rock-a-bye, babyIn the treetop.When the wind blows,The cradle will rock.When the bough breaks,The cradle will fall,And down will come baby,Cradle and all.
Baby is drowsing,Cosy and fair.Mother sits near,In her rocking chair.Forward and back,The cradle she swings,And though baby sleeps,He hears what she sings.
Star Light, Star Bright
Star light, star bright,First star I see tonight,I wish I may, I wish I might,Have the wish I wish tonight.
This Little Piggy
This little piggy went to market;This little piggy stayed home;This little piggy had roast beef;This little piggy had none;This little piggy said,"Wee, wee, wee," all the way home.
This Old Man
This old man, he played one,He played knick knack on his thumb,With a knick, knack, paddy whack,Give the dog a bone;This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played two,He played knick knack on his shoe,With a knick, knack, paddy whack,Give the dog a bone;This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played three,He played knick knack on his knee,With a knick, knack, paddy whack,Give the dog a bone;This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played four,He played knick knack on his door,With a knick, knack, paddy whack,Give the dog a bone;This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played five,He played knick knack on his hive,With a knick, knack, paddy whack,Give the dog a bone;This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played six,He played knick knack on his sticks,With a knick, knack, paddy whack,Give the dog a bone;This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played seven,He played knick knack with his pen,With a knick, knack, paddy whack,Give the dog a bone;This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played eight,He played knick knack on his gate,With a knick, knack, paddy whack,Give the dog a bone;This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played nine,He played knick knack, rise and shine,With a knick, knack, paddy whack,Give the dog a bone;This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played ten,He played knick knack on his hen,With a knick, knack, paddy whack,Give the dog a bone;This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played eleven,He played knick knack up in heaven,With a knick, knack, paddy whack,Give the dog a bone;This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played twelve,He played knick knack, dig and delve,With a knick, knack, paddy whack,Give the dog a bone;This old man came rolling home.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,How I wonder what you are.Up above the world so high,Like a diamond in the sky,Twinkle, twinkle, little star,How I wonder what you are.
When the blazing sun is gone,When he nothing shines upon,Then you show your little light,Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.Twinkle, twinkle, little star,How I wonder what you are.
Then the traveler in the dark,Thanks you for your tiny spark;He could not see which way to go,If you did not twinkle so.Twinkle, twinkle, little star,How I wonder what you are.
Three Blind Mice
Three blind mice,Three blind mice,See how they run!See how they run!They all ran after the farmer's wife,Who cut off their tails,With a carving knife.Did you ever see such a thing in your life,As three blind mice.
Yankee Doodle
Yankee Doodle came to town,Riding on a pony,Stuck a feather in his hat,And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle keep it up,Yankee Doodle dandy,Mind the music and the steps,And with the girls be handy.
Father and I went down to camp,Along with Captain Gooding,And there we saw the men and boys,As thick as hasty pudding.
Yankee Doodle keep it up,Yankee Doodle dandy,Mind the music and the steps,And with the girls be handy.
Discussion about this post