23 Nursery Rhymes Your Little One Will Love
The best and most popular children’s nursery rhymes have stood the best of time for a good reason: They’re fun, educational and, thanks to their earworm melodies, often impossible to forget. Moreover, listening to nursery rhymes can be highly beneficial for your kiddo’s language development. That’s the power of nursery rhyme songs, and why they’ve been passed along from generation to generation for centuries. But where did nursery rhymes come from? And how do they help boost your child’s learning? We’re sharing everything you might be curious to know, plus revealing the top 20 nursery rhymes babies, toddlers, preschoolers and even big kids enjoy.
A nursery rhyme is a short song or children’s poem; it often includes rhyming or repetitive verses According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the tradition of singing nursery rhyme songs is ancient. But more commonly known nursery songs, such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Mary Had a Little Lamb were published in the early 1800s. “Interestingly, many of today’s most common nursery rhymes are centuries old and come from all around the world,” says Amy Jackson, chief early learning strategy officer at Primrose Schools. “Humans have long understood that music and simple, repetitive language are beneficial to children’s development.”
That said, if you’ve ever cocked your head in response to the interesting or even dark language used in some nursery rhymes, you wouldn’t be alone. It’s true that many nursery rhyme songs have somewhat questionable lyrics that reflect the period of their origin. In other words, the words make more sense when put into historical context. To that end, you’ll want to be thoughtful when choosing what nursery songs to share with your kiddo based on their unique personality. The good news is that there are a few modern alternatives to enjoy.
“Nursery rhymes are beneficial to children’s cognitive, social and even physical development,” Jackson notes. In a nutshell, nursery rhymes are usually simple, and musical—all of which can boost baby’s language development. And, thanks to their repetitive nature, the songs are easily learned by young kids. “Once your child is familiar with the song, you can leave off the last word and pause, giving your child a chance to fill in the words,” says May Sofi Brennan, CCC-SLP, a New York State licensed speech-language pathologist… Moreover, many children’s nursery rhyme songs also include hand gestures (like Itsy Bitsy Spider), which can also encourage language development, and are educational, which can help them learn things like colors, animals and telling time.
Finally, singing nursery songs together is a great way for a kiddo to bond with their caregivers and peers, which can boost their social development. “Parents should incorporate them into the time they spend with their child and look for school environments that incorporate music and movement throughout the day,” Jackson advises.
What qualifies as popular nursery rhymes for babies? We’d vote for the ones that not only get stuck in your head, but are easy enough for a little one to wrap their tongue around with a little practice. These nursery rhymes may be inspirational (“Star Light, Star Bright”), funny (“Three Blind Mice”), even interactive (“This Little Piggy”). But all of these classic nursery rhyme songs have one thing in common: They’re adored by even the littlest singers. Keep reading for a nursery rhymes list suitable for babies and toddlers.
Wheels on the Bus
This baby nursery rhyme song is beloved by children and parents alike, thanks to its repetitive verse and accompanying hand gestures.
Lyrics
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round,
Round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town
The doors on the bus go open and shut,
Open and shut,
Open and shut.
The doors on the bus go open and shut,
All through the town
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish.
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,
All through the town
The signals on the bus go blink, blink, blink,
Blink, blink, blink,
Blink, blink, blink.
The signals on the bus go blink, blink, blink,
All through the town
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep,
Beep, beep, beep,
Beep, beep, beep.
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep,
All through the town
The motor on the bus goes vroom, vroom vroom,
Vroom, vroom, vroom,
Vroom, vroom, vroom.
The motor on the bus goes vroom, vroom, vroom,
All through the town
The people on the bus go up and down,
Up and down,
Up and down
The people on the bus go up and down,
All through the town
Star Light, Star Bright
“Star Light, Star Bright” is one of the most popular nursery rhymes of all time—as it should be. It’s simple, short and sweet, all while encouraging little ones to dream.
Lyrics
Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have this wish I wish tonight
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” adapted from a 19th century poem by Jane Taylor, is one of the prettiest baby nursery rhymes, which is why so many people have composed to it—including Mozart!
Lyrics
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!
Fun fact: There are a few more verses, should you want to include them!
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!
In the dark blue sky you keep,
Often through my curtains peep
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Jack and Jill
When it comes to famous baby nursery rhymes, who can resist the tale of the mischievous siblings who made it to the top of the hill, only to roll all the way back down? We love this nursery song for its whimsy and for its all-true lesson that we all fall down sometimes.
Lyrics
Jack and Jill went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after
I’m a Little Teapot
If you have a little one who’s on the shy side, teach them the pantomime-friendly “I’m a Little Teapot, ”by George Harold Sanders and Clarence Z. Kelley. The now classic nursery song and accompanying choreography was created for the youngest students at Kelley’s dance school in 1939, and indeed, kids have been rocking “The Little Teapot” ever since.
Lyrics
I’m a little teapot
Short and stout
Here is my handle (one hand on hip)
Here is my spout (other arm out straight)
When I get all steamed up
Hear me shout (lean over toward spout):
"Tip me over
And pour me out!”
Old MacDonald Had a Farm
What’s great about this nursery song is you can take it anywhere. Each verse gets a new animal and a new animal sound, which can be both really fun and educational for children.
Lyrics
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had a cow
E-I-E-I-O
With a moo-moo here
And a moo-moo there
Here a moo, there a moo
Everywhere a moo-moo
Old MacDonald had a farm
E-I-E-I-O
Humpty Dumpty
Though undoubtedly dark, humpty dumpty is a classic nursery rhyme song most Americans grew up singing. It’s thought to be symbolic for English kings who have fallen out of power.
Lyrics
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
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
Our favorite thing about this baby nursery rhyme? Nearly everything in it is easy to pronounce, making it perfect for tiny tots. Many versions also repeat the verse using various colors, making it a great educational tool for little ones as well.
Lyrics
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full;
One for the master,
And one for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane
The Muffin Man
According to the Museum of London, this popular nursery rhyme originated in 1820 and was written about a muffin man who worked in Drury Lane in London’s West End neighborhood. The nursery song became even more popular after its hilarious tribute in Shrek.
Lyrics
Oh, do you know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Oh, do you know the muffin man,
That lives on Drury Lane?
Oh, yes, I know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Oh, yes, I know the muffin man,
That lives on Drury Lane
This Little Piggy
“This Little Piggy” is one of the most interactive baby nursery rhymes. Wiggle their toes for each “little piggy” and baby will be reduced to giggles—every time.
Lyrics
This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed home,
This little piggy had roast beef,
This little piggy had none,
And this little piggy went
Wee, wee, wee, all the way home!
Three Blind Mice
“Three Blind Mice” makes the list for being one of the most popular Mother Goose nursery rhymes of all time—despite the fact that it’s actually quite dark! Luckily, there are now less violent versions of this classic nursery rhyme out there.
Lyrics
Three blind mice,
Three blind mice
See how they run,
See how they run!
They all ran after
The farmer’s wife
She cut off their tails
With a carving knife
Did you ever see
Such a sight in your life
As three blind mice?
Itsy Bitsy Spider
This popular nursery rhyme was first published in the 1900s and has become a childhood staple for many in the decades since. One of the reasons parents love it? It teaches little ones about resilience.
Lyrics
The itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sunshine
And dried up all the rain,
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again
Mary Had a Little Lamb
According to the New England Historical Society, some historians believe that—though its authorship is contested—this popular nursery rhyme is based on the true story of a little girl named Mary Sawyer from Sterling, Massachusetts who was growing up in the early 1800s. We love this version, which, like “Old McDonald,” introduces different animals to help little ones learn.
Lyrics
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb.
Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow
Mary had a little lamb, and a big giraffe?!
Mary had a big giraffe, big giraffe, big giraffe.
Mary had a big giraffe whose neck was very long
Long, long, long, long
Long, long, long, long
Very very very long
And a rhinoceros. Hmmm?
Mary had a rhinoceros, rhinoceros, rhinoceros
Mary had a rhinoceros whose horn was very sharp
Sharp, sharp, sharp, sharp
Sharp, sharp, sharp, sharp
Very very very sharp
A kangaroo, too?
Mary had a kangaroo, kangaroo, kangaroo
Mary had a kangaroo whose pouch was very warm
Warm, warm, warm, warm
Warm, warm, warm, warm
Very very very warm
And a camel.
Mary had a camel, camel, camel
Mary had a camel. Whose hump was very round
Round, round, round, round
Round, round, round, round
Very very very round
The only real difference between popular nursery rhymes for babies and toddlers and popular nursery rhymes for preschoolers and older kids is the difficulty level. This nursery rhymes list can be a little wordier (like Wynken, Blynken, and Nod) and a little more complicated (like the coordinated clapping of Bingo). This group of classic nursery rhymes is great for preschoolers and up.
Bingo
This English folk song, first published in 1780, is beloved around the world—there’s even an Italian translation: “C’era un contadino che aveva un cagnolino di nome Bingolino.” There’s endless clapping involved, and everyone knows that clapping nursery rhymes are the best nursery rhymes.
Lyrics
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-O
B-I-N-G-O!
B-I-N-G-O!
B-I-N-G-O!
And Bingo was his name-O!
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-O
[Clap]-I-N-G-O!
[Clap]-I-N-G-O!
[Clap]-I-N-G-O!
And Bingo was his name-O!
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-O
[Clap - Clap]-N-G-O!
[Clap - Clap]-N-G-O!
[Clap - Clap]-N-G-O!
And Bingo was his name-O!
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-O
[Clap - Clap - Clap]-G-O!
[Clap - Clap - Clap]-G-O!
[Clap - Clap - Clap]-G-O!
And Bingo was his name-O!
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-O
[Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap]-O!
[Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap]-O!
[Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap]-O!
And Bingo was his name-O!
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-O
[Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap]
[Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap]
[Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap]
And Bingo was his name-O!
Five Little Monkeys
This popular children’s rhyme can come off as a lecture on listening to one’s parents, but on a deeper level it teaches kids the valuable lesson of learning from your mistakes.
Lyrics
Five little monkeys
Jumping on the bed
One fell off
And bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Four little monkeys
Jumping on the bed
One fell off
And bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Three little monkeys
Jumping on the bed
One fell off
And bumped her head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Two little monkeys
Jumping on the bed
One fell off
And bumped his head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
One little monkey
Jumping on the bed
She fell off
And bumped her head
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”
Frère Jacques
Nursery rhymes are also a great way to teach your child a second language, like French. There are a number of lovely French nursery rhymes, but “Frère Jacques” is perhaps one of the most famous ones. Plus, since this version has an English translation built right into it, it’s perfect for French lessons!
Lyrics
Frère Jacques,
Frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous?
Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines,
Sonnez les matines.
Ding, Dang, Dong,
Ding, Dang, Dong.
(English verse, which you can alternate between)
Are you sleeping,
Are you sleeping?
Brother John,
Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing,
Morning bells are ringing.
Ding, Ding, Dong,
Ding, Ding, Dong.
The Grand Old Duke of York
We love the melody of this classic nursery rhyme and that it encourages movement: The kids can stand when the soldiers go up and sit when the soldiers go down. (And they can have a jolly good time figuring out what to do when the soldiers are “neither up nor down.”)
Lyrics
Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men,
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again
And when they were up they were up.
And when they were down they were down
And when they were only halfway up,
They were neither up nor down
Hickory Dickory Dock
This beloved preschool nursery rhyme is incredibly catchy and a great way to teach children about telling time and resilience.
Lyrics
Hickory dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck one
The mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock
Hickory dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck two
The mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock
Hickory dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck three
The mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock
Hickory dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck four
The mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock
Hickory dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck five
The mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock
Hickory dickory dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck six
The mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock
Alouette
If you’re teaching your little one French (or are French!), “Alouette,” about plucking feathers from a bird who wakes you up at the crack of dawn, is another favorite among French nursery rhyme songs. Yes, the story is a tad aggressive, but the tune is an undeniable earworm, and this version is a great way to teach little ones about the parts of the body in French.
Lyrics
Alouette, gentille alouette,
Alouette, je te plumerai.
Alouette, gentille alouette,
Alouette, je te plumerai.
Je te plumerai la tête,
Je te plumerai la tête,
Alouette, alouette… Ooooh!
Alouette, gentille alouette,
Alouette, je te plumerai.
Alouette, gentille alouette,
Alouette, je te plumerai.
Je te plumerai le nez,
Je te plumerai le nez,
Et la tête, et la tête,
Alouette, alouette… Ooooh!
This Is the Way
Sung to the tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush”—and with very similar lyrics—“This Is the Way” is one of the few preschool nursery rhyme songs devoted to something crucial: making getting ready to go to school fun! (Because, let’s face it, even kids can get a case of the Mondays.)
Lyrics
This is the way we make our bed,
Make our bed, make our bed
This is the way we make our bed
So early in the morning.
This is the way we wash our face,
Wash our face, wash our face
This is the way we wash our face.
So early in the morning
This is the way we brush our teeth,
Brush our teeth, brush our teeth
This is the way we brush our teeth
So early in the morning
This is the way we put on our clothes,
Put on our clothes, put on our clothes
This is the way we put on our clothes,
So early in the morning
This is the way we comb our hair,
Comb our hair, comb our hair
This is the way we comb our hair
So early in the morning
This is the way we put on our shoes,
Put on our shoes, put on our shoes
This is the way we put on our shoes,
So early in the morning
This is the way we go to school,
Go to school, go to school
This is the way we go to school
So early in the morning
Row Your Boat
There’s a reason this classic nursery rhyme has stayed popular generation after generation. Not only does it tell the calming story of a boat traveling down a stream, but it also teaches littles to take charge of their own life and just how beautiful it can be.
Lyrics
Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream
A Mi Burro
“A Mi Burro,” about a donkey having a sick day, is one of the most popular Spanish nursery rhymes. Because nearly everything hurts the donkey at one point in the song, kids learn all about the body and the importance of resting up to feel better.
Lyrics
A mi burro, a mi burro
le duele la cabeza;
y el médico le ha dado
una gorrita gruesa.
Una gorrita gruesa,
mi burro enfermo está
mi burro enfermo esta
Wynken, Blynken and Nod
Eugene Field’s 1889 tale, originally titled “Dutch Lullaby,” has been many things: a poem, a nursery rhyme, a lullaby and even a short film (it was part of Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies series). No matter how you remember it, it’s a whimsical story), made all the more so when accompanied by the beautiful illustrations of Coral Keehn.
Lyrics
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe,
Sailed on a river of crystal light
Into a sea of dew
“Where are you going, and what do you wish?”
The old moon asked the three
“We have come to fish for the herring-fish
That live in this beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we,"
Said Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.
The old moon laughed and sang a song,
As they rocked in the wooden shoe;
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew;
The little stars were the herring-fish
That lived in the beautiful sea
“Now cast your nets wherever you wish,”
“Never afraid are we!”
So cried the stars to the fishermen three,
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
All night long their nets they threw
To the stars in the twinkling foam,
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
Bringing the fishermen home:
‘Twas all so pretty a sail, it seemed
As if it could not be;
And some folk thought ‘twas a dream they’d dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea;
But I shall name you the fishermen three:
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
Is a wee one’s trundle-bed;
So shut your eyes while Mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock in the misty sea
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
Plus, more from The Bump:
May Sofi Brennan, CCC-SLP, is a New York State licensed speech-language pathologist. She earned her master’s degree in Communication Disorders from Columbia University.
Amy Jackson, PhD, is the chief early learning strategy officer at Primrose Schools. She holds a doctorate in instructional leadership from Georgetown University, a master’s in curriculum from the University of Georgia, a bachelor’s in early childhood education from Nova Southeastern University.
Encyclopedia Britannica, Nursery Rhyme, November 2023
Encyclopedia Britannica, Did Mozart Write “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”?
New England Historical Society, Mary Had a Little Lamb – Yes, There Was a Mary and She Did Have a Little Lamb, 2023
Museum of London, Rhymes in Time: The Muffin Man,
Learn how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.
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