WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER: Old School Nursery Rhymes Offer New Success for Kids

Here’s a great reason to get your favorite little guys to sing (and dance!) along with you, to all the songs here, on 98.3 WCCQ:  A study shows nursery rhyme memorization contributes to future success as a reader, and more.

Apparently a child who knows 8 nursery rhymes, by heart, by the age of four, is usually among the best readers and spellers in their class, by the time they are in third grade.  Those “old school” nursery rhymes can benefit brain development, and self-esteem.  Whether it’s “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” or a favorite song from Sesame Street, like Ernie’s “Rubber Duckie,” or Oscar’s “I Love Trash,” sing and dance along to the words.

According to The New Age Parents:

Repetition of rhyme and rhythm can help children to…

#1 Develop language and literacy skills

Nursery rhymes are a child’s first experience with words.

#2 Develop communication skills

Helps them learn new vocabulary or numeracy.

#3 Enhances physical development

#4 Helps develop cognitive skills

Improves memory, concentration, spatial intelligence, and thinking skills.

#5 Enhances individual development

Music helps develop kids with better self-control, higher self-esteem and confidence, such as when learning the nursery rhyme through activities with peers

⇒ Related Read: Signs of Low Self-Esteem in Children

In addition, as the early years of childhood is a period of rapid development, researchers believe that the earlier a child is exposed to music, the more the brain responds to different music tones.

#6 The earlier a child studies music, the more rhythmic integration, movement and learning can strengthen the brain.

#7 Music aptitude can be influenced in the early years, and music training (through playing and listening to music), before the age of seven, has a significant effect on parts of the brain related to planning and motor skills.