Rhyming Stories
Rhymes sooth children, they have for centuries. The relaxing rhyming couplets of nursery rhymes and the ABAB meter have a hypnotic tone that sends babies into slumber. But this is not a discussion on the science of hypnosis, but one thing is apparent, and that is that nursery rhymes work.
What is interesting about rhyming stories and nursery rhymes is that they have stayed the same for hundreds of years. Many of the classic nursery rhymes were written in the 18th century and have been passed down from generation to generation. This retelling has diluted the meaning of the rhymes to such an extent that their origins are speculative. The nursery rhyme "Ring a Ring o' Roses" is said to have been written about the Bubonic Plague in 1347 and the "they all fall down" line is said to represent the 75 million who were taken with the dreadful disease.
"Rock-a-bye Baby" is reported to have been written in 1765 and tells the tale of the Egyptian god Horus, or is reference to Native American childcare. As with all classic rhyming stories, there is little evidence to support these claims. But it does give an added depth and interest to classic nursery rhymes. Where did they come from and what exactly do they mean? This has been the subject for debate with some drawing the conclusion that nursery rhymes were a coded form of historical narrative or even propaganda, but today they are simply entertainment.
Although the meaning and origin of rhyming stories has sadly been lost or misinterpreted over the hundreds of years, it has been said that setting rhyming stories to music does aid in a child's development. There is research that supports the theory that rhyme and music will lead to a child's success later in life with subjects such as mathematics and science. When movement is added to telling rhyming stories, clapping to the beat or other types of rhythmical games, both sides of a child's brain are used at the same time and this is a benefit for learning. When a child is very familiar with a nursery rhyme, for example "Ring o Roses" adding appropriate movement at the appropriate time, in the case of this nursery rhyme on the line, "they all fall down," this will boost your child's mind/body brain development.
Rhyming stories are also a great way for toddlers to retain information. There are books available that break down the alphabet into a rhyme that entertains the child and teaches them the alphabet in a new and fun way. The same with counting, the child will go on a rhyming adventure and learn the basic numbers along the way. This type of learning will really install the information in the child's brain and help them develop healthily and with a smile on their faces.
Telling these rhyming stories is a great way to interact with you baby or toddler. The interaction you have with your child through singing and playing games is an essential part of their development and your relationship.