Infant/toddlers:

It really doesn’t matter what you read or sing to children, just as long as you are reading and singing to them everyday. It’s soothing for children who become used to the rhythmic sounds of nursery rhymes to associate it with peaceful, secure settings. The more young children are talked to, the more they develop natural language growth. So talk and sing nursery rhymes to them at routine times of the day such as changing diapers, getting ready for nap, or while they are eating.

Preschoolers:

It is important to incorporate movement and music with learning nursery rhymes or fingerplays. So encourage children to act out the nursery rhymes. Getting down on the ground on their hands and knees while repeating the rhymes or acting like the animals in the rhyme will help them develop both the right and left hemispheres of their brains. Studies have shown that children who missed the crawling stage have more learning disabilities. This is a way to help those who might have missed that stage catch up.

Movement stimulates the learning process by forming long-lasting impressions when they are physically experienced.   Dr. Hannaford, a neurophysiologist and educator, in his book Smart Moves stated that “Cross-lateral movements like crawling activate both hemispheres of the brain in a balanced way.  They involve eyes, ears, hands, and feet, as well as core muscles on both sides of the body, both hemispheres and all four lobes of the brain are activated.  This means cognitive functioning is heightened and learning becomes easier.”