Rhyme Time

Your Child Will Learn

An introduction to rhyming words

Select a nursery rhyme from the attachment linked below, or use one you already know.
As you recite or sing the rhyme, act out the words for your baby.
After you complete the rhyme once, help your baby do the movements as you recite it again. Encourage your baby to say the rhyming words out loud.
If your baby is having fun, keep performing different rhymes!

PAUSE

Turn off the TV and put away your phone. Make eye contact with your baby and smile!

ENGAGE

Vary your speed or the sound of your voice as you say the rhyme. Try being silly with the movements to make your baby laugh.
See if your baby will copy any of your hand motions or try to say any of the rhyming words.

ENCOURAGE

Respond to any babbles, coos, or sounds your baby makes by repeating the sounds or saying “I hear you singing along with me.”
Follow your baby’s cues- repeat songs they enjoy, or move on to another one if they lose interest.

REFLECT

Describe what you think your baby liked based on their reactions. “You really like Itsy Bitsy, huh? You laughed when the spider went down the water spout.”

Younger babies may not interact much with nursery rhymes at first. With repetition, they’ll begin to recognize and respond to their favorites.

As your baby gets older, try leaving out the rhyming word of familiar nursery rhymes and see if they can complete the rhyme.

They will begin to participate in familiar nursery rhymes.

15 minutes

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