Nursery World - Rhythm and rhyme (2)

In the fourth part of a series on establishing a book collection for children in the Foundation Stage, Judith Stevens considers rhythmic and rhyming stories Every early years setting needs a wide variety of books which contain poetry, rhymes and rhyming and rhythmic text. Many children are familiar with nursery rhymes they have heard at home, often from CDs or television.

Every early years setting needs a wide variety of books which contain poetry, rhymes and rhyming and rhythmic text. Many children are familiar with nursery rhymes they have heard at home, often from CDs or television.

Lots will have had pleasurable, reassuring experiences when family members or friends have shared soothing lullabies or rhymes with them when they were babies.

Children are generally comfortable with rhythm and rhyme - it is part of their everyday lives. Advertising campaigns and slogans rely, often heavily, on rhythm and rhyme, and they are a strong influence on modern culture. Rhyme helps us to recall - who doesn't remember what 'Beanz meanz...'? Early years practitioners should build on these early experiences when planning to use rhymes and rhyming texts.

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