Songs and rhymes for you and your baby’s “play” list

“You are the best toy in the room.”  –  Dr. Gina Lebedeva

“Where love is deep, much can be accomplished.”  – Shinichi Suzuki

Most of us have a playlist on one or more devices.  They’re fun to listen to and share.  Perhaps you scoop your baby up into your arms and take a turn around the living room or back yard while their favorite song is playing. 

Do you have a “play” list too? 

It’s a collection of songs and rhymes that needs no device – just you.  Nearly all of them are your baby’s favorites.  If you don’t have your “play” list yet, there are suggested pairs of songs and rhymes at the end of this article to help get you started.  Singing, rhyming, and moving with your baby - the how part - is easy and fun! If you’re interested in why a “play” list is a good idea, read on and look at the references provided.

Research into babies’ brain development has exploded over the last 15 years.  Much of it recognizes the power of the natural learning process inherent in babies’ essential relationships.  An interesting project exploring interpersonal synchrony (1) (known as IS) indicated that babies who experience regular IS with their parents exhibit positive social behaviors more frequently than those who do not. (2)  The same project also strongly suggested that the babies who enjoyed consistent IS smiled more and exhibited less distress.  IS seems to have a regulating effect. 

Neurodevelopmental pediatrician Bruce Perry puts it this way: “When you’re regulated, your cortex is open for business.” (3)

Language learning is the basis of all learning – intellectual, social, and emotional.  All types of learning, especially in the earliest years of life, need human interaction. (4)  Songs and rhymes are an easy, fun way to allow deep learning to take place and strengthen the parent/child bond:

They listen to your very familiar voice (we now know babies recognize their parents’ voices in utero!) and anticipate what you do with delighted fascination.  You quickly learn which songs and rhymes are their favorites and how to elicit the most smiles and wiggles.  Have fun!

suggestions for your “play” list

*Here are some tried and true songs and rhymes that can easily incorporate suggested movements or your own choreography: 

1.  Pop Goes the Weasel

A babe in arms can “pop” along with you.  A walking child might want some gentle help jumping for their “pop”.

2.   Muffin Man

Try stepping during “Do you know the Muffin Man?”

and clapping during “Yes I know the Muffin Man!”.

3.  Pat-a-Cake

Older children like the traditional “pat it, prick it” finger play.  With younger ones, try “roll it, pat it”:  Help them roll forearms over each other (a slower, baby-sized version of the choreography for Tina Turner’s “Rollin’ on the River”).  Gently pat knees or tummy in place of hands.

4.  To Market, To Market

Always a favorite, though some babies like a bouncier ride than others!

Use this list as a springboard to find you and your baby’s favorites.  Try making up one yourself!  Our rich trove of nursery songs and rhymes are very old, but they were given to us by parents not so different from ourselves.  Who knows, your composition may end up on lots of “play” lists!

*All songs and rhymes, along with their accompanying movements, are derived from the Suzuki Early Childhood Education curriculum developed by Dorothy and Sharon Jones.

References:

(1)   In the research cited in (2), interpersonal synchrony refers to the movements of 2 or more people overlapping in time to music.

(2)     Gerry/Unrau/Trainor      Active Music Classes in Infancy Enhance Musical,  Communicative, and Social Development – Journal of

 Developmental Science 15:3 (2012), pp 398 - 407 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaqWehfDm7c

(3)   A quote from Dr. Bruce Perry’s address to Tomorrow’s Child Foundation:  May 18, 2017

(4)   Dr. Patricia Kuhl, University of Washington https://www.ted.com/talks/patricia_kuhl_the_linguistic_genius_of_babies?language=en#t-36723