Maths can be a daunting subject for some learners. But what if maths can be made fun and enjoyable from a very young age? Counting rhymes for kids are an engaging way to help children learn to count in a fun and memorable way. It is a necessity to learn how to count and it can be difficult to get a toddler to focus on something new like arithmetic. A combination of imagination with rhythm and tune makes it an enjoyable and knowledgeable experience. Listening to a counting rhyme and singing along with their friends can pave the way to make any child a maths enthusiast. Rhymes for counting is a great way to develop numeracy skills, sharpen memory, and language abilities in children.
There are numerous counting songs and rhymes for children, depending on their age. We have segregated a few classic examples for different age groups among children. Let us take a tour and make maths fun for them!
Counting Rhymes For Nursery
Nursery counting rhymes are simple yet joyful. By learning to recite these rhymes and songs, they are introduced to arithmetic in a playful manner. Here is a list of five counting rhymes for nursery.
- One, Two, Three, Four, Five
- Hickory Dickory Dock
- One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
- One Potato, Two Potato
- This Old Man
“One, two, three, four, five, Once I caught a fish alive. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, Then I let it go again. Why did you let it go? Because it bit my fingers so. Which finger did it bite? Little finger on the right.” This rhyme introduces counting numbers in sequence. It also adds to an interactive experience because of the acts of catching and releasing. This can be a fun rhyme to teach nursery kids to acquaint them with counting numbers in sequence.
“Hickory, dickory, dock, The mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one, the mouse ran down, Hickory, dickory, dock.” This is a nursery rhyme that incorporates numerical elements in a rhyming and rhythmic manner. Although there is no sequence of numbers playing out in order, it has elements of the clock’s timing. Both these aspects are important for nursery children to learn.
“One, two, buckle my shoe, Three, four, shut the door, Five, six, pick up sticks, Seven, eight, lay them straight, Nine, ten, a big fat hen!” This rhyme can enable nursery children to learn counting numbers from one to ten by engaging them with a catchy rhyme. It is one of the best-known classics for rhymes on counting. If the child learns counting till ten easily, then the rhyme also progresses to the count of twenty.
“One potato, two potato, three potato, four, Five potato, six potato, seven potato, more! Let’s hop on one foot and count to ten, Then let’s do it all over again!” This rhyme introduces numbers in sequence which can be recited with a physical activity by counting on their fingertips and hopping on one foot, making this rhyme a classic example of a fun rhyme for nursery children.
This old man, he played one, He played knick-knack on my thumb. With a knick-knack paddywhack, give a dog a bone, This old man came rolling home. This counting rhyme goes on till the count of ten. This counting rhyme uses a repetitive structure and the familiar tune of “Knick-knack paddywhack” to count from one to ten, associating each number with an action or verse.
Counting Rhymes For Kindergarten
Counting rhymes for kindergarten are a little more complex as compared to the ones for nursery. For kindergarten, mathematics concepts of addition, subtraction, and other valuable insights and calculation are put forward to create imprints on the children’s mind. Here is a list of five counting rhymes for children in kindergarten.
- Five Little Ducks
- Ten in the Bed
- Ten Little Indians
- Five Little Speckled Frogs
- Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed
“Five little ducks went out one day, Over the hills and far away. Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack. But only four little ducks came back. 1, 2, 3, 4. Four little ducks went out one day, Over the hills and far away. Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack. But only three little ducks came back. 1, 2, 3…” This classic rhyme is a perfect way to teach subtraction and diminishing numbers which help children learn how to count down.
“There were ten in the bed, and the little one said, “Roll over, roll over.” So, they all rolled over, and one fell out. There were nine in the bed…” This rhyme goes on till the numbers diminish from ten to one. It helps kindergarten children learn subtraction in a fun and engaging manner.
“One little, two little, three little Indians, Four little, five little, six little Indians, Seven little, eight little, nine little Indians, Ten little Indian boys.” This traditional rhyme is a way to learn counting perfectly, along with feelings of familiarity and belongingness. It also makes the children encourage their background as an Indian as it is made relatable through the rhyme.
“Five little speckled frogs, Sat on a speckled log, Eating some most delicious bugs. Yum, yum! One jumped into the pool Where it was nice and cool, Now there are four green speckled frogs, glub, glub…” This rhyme is a modern variation of a classic counting rhyme for kindergarten. It shows the children how to make subtraction fun.
“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!” This rhyme goes on till only one little monkey is present. It helps children understand the process of diminishing numbers and subtraction easily.
Counting songs and rhymes are invaluable tools in the learning process of arithmetic capabilities in children. The rhyme, rhythm, and engagement through enactment play a crucial role in the memorisation of numbers, understanding of arithmetic concepts like addition, subtraction, diminishing values, and other aspects. Counting rhymes for preschoolers is the peak entertaining way to engage children to be natural maths enthusiasts from a very young age.
Parents and educators can make use of classical and modern variations of these rhymes to expand mathematical capabilities in the young children. The entire process can be made more engaging by adding props, showing videos, and enacting them in a group. This is a perfect way to help children engage in playful exploration of the world of numbers. For more information, visit EuroKids, or visit a center nearest to you.
