Three Children Sliding on the Ice
Three children sliding on the ice
Upon a summer's day,
As it fell out, they all fell in,
The rest they ran away.
Oh, had these children been at school,
Or sliding on dry ground,
Ten thousand pounds to one penny
They had not then been drowned..
Ye parents who have children dear,
And ye, too, who have none,
If you would keep them safe abroad,
Pray keep them safe at home.
Origin
The origins of the nursery rhyme Three Children Sliding on the Ice are not clear, but it is believed to have been written in the 17th or 18th century. The rhyme has been passed down from generation to generation, with variations in the lyrics and tune being added along the way.
Meaning
The lyrics of the nursery rhyme tell the story of three children who are playing on the ice, but unfortunately, they all fall in and drown. The last stanza serves as a cautionary message to parents to keep their children safe and to watch over them.
The song’s warning about the dangers of ice has been taken seriously in many cultures, where children are taught not to play on frozen bodies of water.
