Nursery Rhymes as Mother Goose Knows Them

Ah, those sweet nursery rhymes of early childhood! Who doesn't remember singing “Humpty Dumpty,” “Jack and Jill,” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb”? These beloved songs are known worldwide, wherever English is spoken as a mother tongue and beyond. They have even made their way into English language textbooks for foreign speakers. The best part is, no matter where you go - the United States, Canada, Australia, or the UK - the nursery rhymes remain the same. The only difference is that in America, they are referred to as Mother Goose nursery rhymes, a name with roots in England dating back to the 18th century. However, the British have since forgotten about Mother Goose and simply call them nursery rhymes.

What makes nursery rhymes so special is that they don't need to be sung to be musical. The rhythm and rhyme of the verses give them an effortless quality that makes them easy to memorize. Young children who can't yet read can recite them with ease, building up their vocabulary and advancing their pre-reading skills. Even though the majority of nursery rhymes were not originally composed for children, most kids just love reciting them.

Some of the nursery rhymes we know and love today were once parts of longer ballads and folk songs. They tell stories of long-forgotten conflicts and wars, describe ancient rituals, and even contain proverbs. They all have a piece of human history attached to them, even if we're not quite sure what that history is today. Regardless, all nursery rhymes are enchantingly beautiful in their own right.

What makes nursery rhymes so special is that they don't need to be sung to be musical. The rhythm and rhyme of the verses give them an effortless quality that makes them easy to memorize. Young children who can't yet read can recite them with ease, building up their vocabulary and advancing their pre-reading skills. Even though the majority of nursery rhymes were not originally composed for children, most kids just love reciting them.