Nursery rhymes and songs
Get started with nursery rhymes
Choose me a nursery rhyme!
If you're not sure what rhyme to sing or want to learn some new ones, try answering a few questions and let us choose.
7 benefits of nursery rhymes for babies and toddlers
Why do we sing traditional nursery rhymes? Find out more about all the benefits that nursery rhymes have for your child.
Nursery rhymes for babies
The Wheels on the Bus
A classic rhyme to sing on the bus, at home, or anywhere really!
Three Little Speckled Frogs
An upbeat song for playtime with your baby.
Three in the Bed
A fun rhyme to sing with your baby - you could try it when they first wake up in bed.
Little Miss Muffet
Try singing the classic rhyme 'Little Miss Muffet' at meal times.
Pop Goes the Weasel
Babies and toddlers love the 'pop' noise in this rhyme!
Knees Up, Mother Brown
Try singing Knees Up, Mother Brown at playtime.
Wind the Bobbin Up
Try singing 'Wind the Bobbin Up' the next time you're sat at the table.
Cross Cross, Line Line
Try playing 'Cross Cross, Line Line' and doing the actions together.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Singing lullabies can help your baby settle into a bedtime routine.
Walkies Round the Garden
Not just a fun rhyme game, but a way of teaching listening skills too.
Action songs: Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Singing action songs like Row Your Boat can help children pick up on words.
Classic nursery rhymes
Michael Finnegan
A song with lots of fun rhyming, great as your little one approaches school age.
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Once I Caught a Fish Alive
A playful rhyme that can help introduce numbers to toddlers.
Old MacDonald had a Farm
Try singing this old favourite with toys or props - and remember to do the animal sounds!
Six fat sausages
Try singing this nursery rhyme with your toddler or swap in sausages for their favourite food!
One banana, two banana
Give this nursery rhyme a try and have a go swapping the words with your child's favourite foods!
Jack and Jill
Let your child lead the singing and head up the hill just like Jack and Jill.
Hickory Dickory Dock
This is a great nursery rhyme to teach your child a fun way to practice counting.
The Grand Old Duke of York
This marching song is a favourite for its up and down actions.
Wind the Bobbin Up
The actions in this nursery rhyme are easy to learn and perfect for your next playtime.
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
The classic rhyme for learning names for parts of the body.
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Your toddler will love making the noises that go with this rhyme.
One, Two, Put on Your Shoes
Rhymes can also help introduce toddlers to numbers, too.
Sleeping Bunnies
Toddlers will go hopping mad for this action rhyme!
One Potato, Two Potato
Make time to rhyme at playtime by singing One Potato, Two Potato with your little one.
The Parent Rap - rap skills to help your baby
Bumping Beats
Battle rapper Tony D explains in song how you can rap and sing to your baby in the womb.
Making up nursery rhymes
Walk, Walk Down the Street
A little sing-song on a walk is a great chance to introduce words and phrases about your plans for the day.
All Your Food is Dribbling Down
You can make meal time a fun learning time by making up songs for your messy baby.
Splash, Splash Bathtime
Is there a better time to make up a song and get talking than bath time?
Bake a Cake
When you're doing something fun like baking, why not make up a song and have even more fun?
We Are Getting Ready For School
A rhyme to make your morning routine that little bit more fun for children approaching school age.
Snuggle Up and Choose a Book
Try this new spin on a classic nursery rhyme before sharing a story at bedtime.
Round and Round for Ages
Have fun together while doing the washing by switching up words in nursery rhymes.
Are you hungry?
Inspiration for making up rhymes can come from anywhere - this mum uses 'I hear thunder' as a starting point.
Daddy Freckle - Playing rhyming games
Daddy Freckle and his daughter Flo play a fun rhyming game - great for building vocabulary before school.
Daddy Freckle - Making up silly songs
Blogger Daddy Freckle and a group of dads show us why making up silly songs with their children is a lot of fun.
Walk Slow and Stand Up Tall
Get active and have a go at making up your own nursery rhymes - anything goes so just have fun!
Going to the Playground
Singing nursery rhymes when you're out and about is a great way to include rhyming throughout your day.
We Are Going Swimming Today
Songs about activities are a great way of building in language learning to everyday life.
The Wheels on Isaac's Chair
Try making up your own words to songs that include your child too.
You're Standing Up So Tall
A song to sing when your little one is starting to walk.
Look At You in Your Bed
You can make up rhymes at any time, even when your baby has just woken up!
Hang It On the Line
A song to try singing with your baby when doing the laundry.
The 'Wee Wee Poo' Song
A song to try when you're changing your baby, to bond with them and help with the wriggles.
Rhymes in a second language - Yorùbá
Eropílénì Ó dàbọ̀ (Goodbye Aeroplane)
Singing nursery rhymes from your country is a great way to help your child learn your language.
Orí, Èjìká, Orúnkún, Ìka Ẹsẹ̀ (Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes)
Learn the Yorùbá version of the popular nursery rhyme Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes. It's perfect for bilingual families to sing together.
Eye Mélo Tolongo Wáyé? (How Many Birds Followed Robin to the World?)
This traditional Yorùbá lullaby is the perfect way to send your little one off to sleep at bedtime.
Baba MacDonald ni oko (Old MacDonald had a Farm)
This Yorùbá version of the popular English nursery rhyme is a great way to teach children animal names in a new language.
Lábẹ́ Igi Òrom̀bó (Under the Orange Tree)
This popular Yorùbá folk song is perfect to sing with your little one while they are playing.
Rhymes about your town or city
Tiny Happy People nursery rhyme book - Manchester edition
We've given seven traditional nursery rhymes a Manchester twist to inspire you to chat and sing with your child.
The Grand Old Duke - Merthyr Tydfl version
A South Wales spin on the classic rhyme.
Row, Row, Row Your Boat - Glasgow Version
A Glasgow twist on a bath time favourite.
Five Little Gulls - Cornwall version
A Cornish take on Five Little Ducks.
Let's Get on the Bus - Belfast version
A song about Belfast to the tune of Baa Baa Black Sheep.
Hickory Dickory Dock - Manchester Version
A Manchester version of the classic rhyme, featuring a bee.
More nursery rhyme and song resources
Bookbug Song and Rhyme Library
A collection of Songs and rhymes from the Scottish Book Trust.
- Attribution