The childhood of all of us has passed between nursery rhymes, folk songs, and other types of nursery rhymes; In a way, we have also tried to transmit that 'culture' of nursery rhymes to our offspring, because singing to babies and singing with children is a wonderful way to strengthen family ties, get moments of intimacy and why not? Have fun . In addition, we cannot deny that babies try to keep up with the melodies, and repeat the refrains, and that is beneficial for their development.
The nursery rhyme is timeless, and we could go back several generations to see that in the course of time, mothers, fathers, grandparents, uncles, neighbors ... have sung to children; and these in turn have done the same when growing up, humming for other children. Also is that we already sing to our baby since before his birth, and we do it as an instinctive act, convinced that he will listen to us, or who knows! because we love doing it and it relaxes us a lot.
And if the grown-ups sing to the babies to entertain them, play little 'lap' games or to keep them quiet before going to sleep, the children have sung 'forever' during those wonderful moments of relationship with their friends, trying to memorize letters, with the satisfaction that comes from feeling part of a group. Let's not forget that songs (especially popular ones) serve as the common thread of different games, and it is already known that playing is the activity they like to dedicate the most.
Nursery rhymes
Whenever a musical piece is conceived for an audience made up of children and / or babies, it can be considered infantile; your children may know current singers and / or groups (some of them are children too), but what is certain is that they still remember how you used to sing to them "Cuckoo, the frog sang" a few years ago. Below you will find a complete selection that we think you will like.
It is almost common sense, but in an attempt to expand on a phrase that I have introduced above, I tell you that children's songs have a great influence in children's development:
- Singing and listening to children's songs are two actions that favor relationships with family and friends.
- It acts as a factor of social integration.
- It is related to the development of language and speech.
- Like reading, it can improve listening comprehension.
- It has a direct influence on what we call 'musical ear', and improves the sense of rhythm.
Types of nursery rhymes
Oral transmission has been very important to keep the stories and songs rooted in the communitiesThat is why nowadays it is a bit complicated for children to reach them this way, since 'life on the street' has given way to staying within the four walls of the house, surrounded by a technology that is beneficial , but it also 'steals' time and interferes with other experiences.
If the doors of the houses are closed, you cannot go to see that old neighbor who knew so many songs, if our children spend a lot of time on homework and the console, they will not play in the street and they will not teach each other those lyrics. so endearing. But in schools, especially in Early Childhood Education, songbooks are being kept for children's audiences, thus making up for the lack of time for mothers and fathers..
We have tried to develop an integrative classification that takes into account a representative part of the traditional children's songbook, So:
'Lap songs for babies'
We have all sung them when our children have been between 0 and 18 months approximately. These are very simple rhymes that accompany actions by which the motor skills of babies are worked.
Five little wolves
Used to stimulate the movement of the hands, and as a demonstration of affection towards babies: consists of a micro story on the exercise of 'motherhood'.
Sawdust, sawed
A popular song that can be used by holding the baby's hands sitting on the lap (and looking at us), while leaning slowly backwards and forwards.
Mu, mu, mu ...
«Mu, mu, mu, go to sleep you; mu, mu, mu, the mule and the ox warm the ox ». It can be both a lullaby song, and it could become the baby's first Christmas carol.
Walking, trotting and galloping.
It is ideal for work rhythm in babies, although if they are very small you have to be careful with the movements, because although we see that they maintain muscle tone in the neck, their muscles and joints are still immature.
This one laid an egg….
Es an entertaining mini game for babies that consists of naming the fingers of the hand according to their function in the preparation "of the egg." Most kids love it and it makes them laugh.
When you go to ...
It can also be played with older children (up to 6 or 7 years old) and they all like it: babies can be gently laid on the lap, with little ones who already play in the park, the surface will not matter. It consists of pretending that we are going to the bakery, or to the butcher shop ... or to the market if we play with many little ones at the same time; once there (imaginatively) we have asked for a piece of bread or cheese, and we caress the tummy with the edge of the hand that pretends to cutbut it actually massages and tickles.
Lullabies or 'lullabies'
Sweet, tender, imported from other countries or very ours ... we listened to them from our grandmother's mouth as she hummed them to our little brothers, and we have sung them to our babies. They are very short songs made up of unique stanzas. The 'Andalusian lullaby' is very famous although we all know lullabies from other parts of the world, and more than one classical composer has works of this type to his credit.
I throw my child.
A song that is hummed almost whispering for the baby to relax.
Sleep black.
Attributed to Argentine folkore.
Estrellita, where are you?
Un classic soft intonation and sweet lyrics that are easy to learn and hum.
Brahms lullaby.
An essential piece in the repertoire of lullabies whose melody we should learn to whisper in baby's ear somnolent. A marvel.
The piglets are already in bed.
Y like all the babies in the world, their mom gives them kisses so they have sweet dreams.
The chick Lito.
This time the protagonist is a chick freshly hatched, which children adore.
Songs to play
Rhymes to decide who starts to play, typical ring songs, racing palms songs, etc. Of each of them there are multiple adaptations, depending on the environment and even the characteristics of each group of girls and boys.
At the back of the potato.
Is a song of lyrics and melody repeated that However, it is very well accepted by children up to seven years old. It's fun and encourages activity together.
To the shoe from behind.
Song typical 'of I run sitting'and the bigger the better, accompanies a game that consists of hiding a shoe behind one of the seated children, while the one who goes around sings and does not stop moving.
The dance of the Chipi Chipi.
Does it sound familiar to you? «Yesterday I went to town, to see Mari, and Mari taught me to dance the Chipi Chipi» It is a song of circle whose dynamics consists of getting out to dance through imitation of the Chipi Chipi (movements of arms bent in front and behind). A player begins, and after getting the first partner, the number of dancers in the center of the circle is doubling because each one looks for his partner.
The hideout / English bird.
Song that accompanies a game of "frozen" expression in which the skill that counts is to stay in the same position while the person paying checks that no one blinks.
Where are the keys?
The majority we have sung it to the children when they were little, it is sung and danced dancing in pairs with folded hands while trying to figure out who will go for them.
Don Federico lost his wallet.
To marry a seamstress, and from here begins a chained story which is able to hold children's attention.
Playful songs
With no other purpose than to sing and sing ... and have a good time 🙂.
Mr. Don Gato.
A popular rhyming song that tell a chained story, very suitable for singing as a family.
The yard of my house.
The courtyard of that eternal house in the play of children of many generations: song to sing, to dance and to laugh with friends. Evocative of childhood dreams and of that timeless place that remains fixed in the heart.
Susanita has a mouse.
This song popularized by a well-known clown family from the television, was anchored in the repertoire that the little ones use. It is true that Susanita had that little mouse that ate anise balls, and it is also true that you will be excited if you listen to your children sing it.
I have a doll.
The sweet doll that wears blue and catches a cold, is the pretext for the children chain numbers and remember very simple additions. It is our doll of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
An elephant swayed.
If it's about singing for singing, This is a good example, and incidentally, the children laugh imagining those elephants in balance.
Let it Rain.
Although we have investigated, we cannot find the origin of this popular song which reads like this: "Let it rain, let it rain, the Virgin of the Cave." And it is because in an almost magical way, oral tradition led to the simultaneous beginning of legends in various places. (in this case of the Spanish geography). More than a prayer asking for water for the crops, it seems to be a kind of childish spell, that must be why it stayed what it is.
Didactic songs
Most of them can be included in the other classifications, but their characteristics (linked stories, memorization, etc.) make them highly valued in Early Childhood Education classrooms, as they help to work on aspects related to cognitive development and psychomotor skills.
Under A Button.
It is an easy memorization song for children over 5 years old, who consists repeating the elements in reverse, once we finish the main stanza. It admits incorporation of simple percussion instruments, and even dramatization.
Cuckoo, the frog sang.
It is very suitable for stimulate non-verbal communication in very young children.
Don Pinpon.
That doll that does not grow, washes his face with soap, eats with an apron and goes to sleep It is ideal for classrooms from the first cycle of Infant, to P4. Allow children to rehearse gesturing.
I am a cup.
A song of recent origin that has become popular and quickly disclosed thanks to the sing game. Used at festivals and children's events, it also seduces mothers and fathers who do not hesitate to become kitchen utensils to the delight of children.
My donkey has a headache.
And the little donkey is getting sick, while the doctor tries to relieve him, and the children repeat the verses exercising memory.
A tiny boat.
A song that must have a place in the children's songbook to be remembered, like that little boat that moved away for several weeks.
Children's songs today
As I have already pointed out, living with the traditional children's songbook, professional musicians who offer products aimed at this audience have been emerging for several decades: film soundtracks, groups that offer dance songs for children with highly adapted content (like the Cantajuego), even girls and boys (and this is not a new phenomenon) who form their own band, such as the “Furius Monkey Mouse” with music for older audiences (teenagers); without forgetting those groups made up of several members of the same family (Candela, the girl who sings with her parents).
Thus, the panorama of music for children is quite broad, although it is true that both the protagonists themselves (the children) and the mothers and fathers, when they are babies or very young, we opt for the traditional or popular song, with easy and catchy lyrics, happy music and easy-to-follow rhythms to be used in games or in the educational context.
Images - valentinapowers, Francois Nicholas Riss, familymwr