Children rhymes english collection

30 Popular English Nursery Rhymes for Kids

Popular English Nursery Rhymes For Kids

English Nursery Rhymes for kids: Below you will find the lyrics of 30 of the most popular and fun baby nursery rhymes for kids in English.

Just like reading books to your kids is important, singing nursery rhymes are a fun way to interact with kids and beneficial to their language development.

Read your baby or child a story in rhyme, or sing along together. Either way they are lots of fun.

My kids love these nursery rhymes, and I am sure your kids will love them too! Make sure to check in as we edit this post often to add new info!

30 Nursery Rhymes for Kids with Lyrics

Find below 30 popular rhymes with lyrics that kids will love! At the end of the post you can find baby lullabies and kids poems to check out too!

1. 12345 Once I caught A fish Alive Lyrics

One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let go again.

Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on the right

2. Alphabet Song (Abc’s) Lyrics

A B C D E F G
H I J K L M N O P
Q R S T U V
W X Y and Z

Now I know my ABCs
Next time won’t you sing with me

Recommended:
Alphabet games for kids

3. A Sailor Went To Sea Lyrics

A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what he could see, see, see
But all that he could see, see, see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea!

A sailor went to knee, knee, knee
To see what he could knee, knee, knee
But all that he could knee, knee, knee
Was the bottom of the deep blue knee, knee, knee!
Sea, sea, sea

A sailor went to chop, chop, chop
To see what he could chop, chop, chop
But all that he could chop, chop, chop
Was the bottom of the deep blue chop, chop, chop!
Knee, knee, knee
Sea, sea, sea

4.

There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-O.
B-I-N-G-O!
B-I-N-G-O!
B-I-N-G-O!
And Bingo was his name-O!

There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-O.
(Clap)-I-N-G-O!
(Clap)-I-N-G-O!
(Clap)-I-N-G-O!
And Bingo was his name-O!

There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-O!
(Clap – Clap)-N-G-O!
(Clap – Clap)-N-G-O!
(Clap – Clap)-N-G-O!
And Bingo was his name-O!

There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-O.
(Clap – Clap – Clap)-G-O!
(Clap – Clap – Clap)-G-O!
(Clap – Clap – Clap)-G-O!
And Bingo was his name-O!

There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-O.
(Clap – Clap – Clap – Clap)-O!
(Clap – Clap – Clap – Clap)-O!
(Clap – Clap – Clap – Clap)-O!
And Bingo was his name-O!

There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-O.
(Clap – Clap – Clap – Clap – Clap)
(Clap – Clap – Clap – Clap – Clap)
(Clap – Clap – Clap – Clap – Clap)
And Bingo was his name-O!

5.

Baa, baa black sheep
Have you any wool
Yes sir, yes sir
Three bags full.

One for my master
And one for my dame
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.

6. Head Shoulders Knees and Toes Lyrics

This fun nursery rhymes has gestures as well. Touch each body part as you sing the song for more interactive learning! Kids will love it.

Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
And eyes, and ears, and mouth, and nose.
Head, shoulders, knees and toes,
Knees and toes.
(Repeat)

7. Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush Lyrics

Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush.
Here we go round the mulberry bush
On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we…
(insert actions and continue the song as above with each action such as “wash our hands” or “shake our head” etc)

8.

Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

9. Hickory Dickory Dock Lyrics

Hickory Dickory Dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck one
The mouse ran down
Hickory Dickory Dock

Hickory Dickory Dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck two
The mouse went “boo!”
Hickroy Dickory Dock

10. Humpty Dumpty Lyrics

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the King’s horses and all the King’s men,
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

11. Hush, Little Baby Lyrics

(This is a beautiful nursery rhyme to sing at night time as your little one is falling asleep)

Hush, little baby, don’t say a word,
Papa’s gonna buy you a mockingbird.

And if that mockingbird don’t sing,
Papa’s gonna buy you a diamond ring.

And if that diamond ring turn brass,
Papa’s gonna buy you a looking glass.

And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa’s gonna buy you a billy goat.

And if that billy goat don’t pull,
Papa’s gonna buy you a cart and bull.

And if that cart and bull turn over,
Papa’s gonna buy you a dog named Rover.

And if that dog named Rover won’t bark.
Papa’s gonna to buy you and horse and cart.

And if that horse and cart fall down,
Well you’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

12. I’m a Little Teapot Lyrics

I’m a little teapot
Short and stout
Here is my handle
Here is my spout.

When I get all steamed up
Hear me shout
“Tip me over
and pour me out!’.

13. If You’re Happy and You Know It Lyrics

(This song has gestures, so move along as you sing to make it more fun!)

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
(clap clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
(clap clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
(clap clap)

If you’re happy and you know it stamp your feet.
(Stomp Stomp)
If you’re happy and you know it stamp your feet.
(Stomp Stomp)
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it.
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet
(Stomp Stomp)

If you’re happy and you know it, shout hurray
Hurray
If you’re happy and you know it, shout hurray
Hurray
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it, shout hurray
Hurray

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands  (clap clap)
Stomp your feet (stomp stomp)
Shout hurray “Hurray”
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands  (clap clap)
Stomp your feet (stomp stomp)
Shout hurray “Hurray”

14.

Incy wincy spider
climbed up the water spout,
Down came the rain
and washed poor Wincy out,

Out came the sun shine
and dried up all the rain,
And Incy Wincy spider
climbed up the spout again.

15. Jack and Jill Lyrics

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.

Up Jack got and home did trot
As fast as he could caper;
And went to bed to mend his head
With vinegar and brown paper.

More Nursery Rhymes for Kids with Lyrics!

You are half way, but we still have more lyrics for your favourite baby nursery rhymes!!! Want a printable list? Subscribe to our email list and then email us [email protected] and we can send it to you!

16. 5 Little Ducks Lyrics

Five little ducks
Went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said
“Quack, quack, quack, quack. ”
But only four little ducks came back.

Four little ducks
Went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said
“Quack, quack, quack, quack.”
But only three little ducks came back.

Three little ducks
Went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said
“Quack, quack, quack, quack.”
But only two little ducks came back.

Two little ducks
Went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said
“Quack, quack, quack, quack.”
But only one little duck came back.

One little duck
Went out one day
Over the hill and far away
Mother duck said
“Quack, quack, quack, quack.”
But none of the five little ducks came back.

Sad mother duck
Went out one day
Over the hill and far away
The sad mother duck said
“Quack, quack, quack.”
And all of the five little ducks came back.

*You are reading a list of the best nursery rhymes for kids in English on Bilingual Kidspot. Keep reading for more popular nursery rhymes!*

17. 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed Lyrics

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!’

Four little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped her head.
Papa called the Doctor and the Doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!’

Three 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!’

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed,
One fell off and bumped her head.
Papa called the Doctor and the Doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!’

One little monkey jumping on the bed,
He fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the Doctor and the Doctor said,
“Put those monkeys straight to bed!’

18. Mary had a Little Lamb Lyrics

Mary had a little lamb,
Little lamb, little lamb.
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow.

And every where that Mary went,
Mary went, Mary went.
Everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day,
School one day, school one day.
It followed her to school one day,
Which was against the rule.

It made the children laugh and play,
Laugh and play, laugh and play.
It made the children laugh and play,
To see a lamb at school.

So the teacher turned him out,
turned him out, turned him out.
So the teacher turned him out,
And sent him straight away.

19. Miss Polly Had A Dolly Lyrics

Miss Polly had a dolly who was sick, sick, sick.
So she phoned for the doctor to be quick, quick, quick.
The doctor came with his bag and hat,
And knocked at the door with a rat tat tat.

He looked at the dolly and shook his head,
And said “Miss Polly put her straight to bed.”
He wrote a pad for a pill, pill, pill.
I’ll be back in the morning with my bill, bill, bill.

20. Old MacDonald Had a Farm Lyrics

This fun nursery rhyme uses animal sounds. Did you know that not everyone hears the animal sounds the same around the world? In English we say “Whoof whoof” for a dog, but in other languages it’s different! Check out our post on how animals sound in different languages.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E I E I O,
And on his farm he had a cow, E I E I O.
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there,
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E I E I O.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E I E I O,
And on his farm he had a pig, E I E I O.
With an oink oink here and an oink oink there,
Here an oink, there an oink, everywhere an oink oink.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E I E I O.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E I E I O,
And on his farm he had a duck, E I E I O.
With a quack quack here and a quack quack there,
Here a quack, there a quack, everywhere a quack quack.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E I E I O

Old MacDonald had a farm, E I E I O,
And on his farm he had a horse, E I E I O.
With a neh neh here and a neh neh there,
Here a neh, there a neh, everywhere a neh neh.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E I E I O.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E I E I O,
And on his farm he had some sheep, E I E I O.
With a bah bah here and a bah bah there,
Here a bah, there a bah everywhere a bah bah
Old MacDonald had a farm, E I E I O.

Ring Around the Rosie Lyrics

Before starting this song, all stand around in a circle holding hands. As you sing along, move around in a circle. Follow the words to “fall down” and “jump up”

Ring around the rosie,
A pocket full of posies,
Atishoo, Atishoo,
We all fall down!

The cows are in the meadow
Eating buttercup
Atishoo, Atishoo,
We all jump up!

21. Rock-a-Bye Baby Lyrics

Rock a bye baby, on the tree top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock,
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.

This is a sweet baby nursery rhyme, but also considered a lullaby. See more: Baby lullabies with lyrics

22. Row, Row, Row Your Boat Lyrics

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream

If you see a crocodile
Don’t forget to scream!

23. Teddy bear, Teddy Bear Lyrics

This nursery rhyme has lots of actions to go with the lyrics so make sure you follow along to make it even more fun!

Teddy bear, teddy bear, Turn around!
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Touch the ground!
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Jump up high!
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Touch the sky!

Teddy bear, teddy bear, Bend down low!
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Touch you toes!
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Turn out the light!
Teddy bear, teddy bear, Say good night!

24. Ten In a Bed Lyrics

There were ten in a bed
And the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over
And one fell out

There were nine in a bed
And the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over
And one fell out

There were eight in a bed
And the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over
And one fell out

There were seven in a bed
And the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over
And one fell out

There were six in a bed
And the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over
And one fell out

There were five in a bed
And the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over
And one fell out

There were four in a bed
And the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over
And one fell out

There were three in a bed
And the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over
And one fell out

There were two in a bed
And the little one said
“Roll over, roll over”
So they all rolled over
And one fell out

There was one in a bed
And the little one said
“Good night!”

25.

(March on the spot with your hands and legs with this one to make it more fun!)

Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men,
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again.

And when they were up they were up.
And when they were down they were down.
And when they were only half way up,
They were neither up nor down.

26. The Hokey Pokey Lyrics

(Another English nursery rhyme for kids to follow along with the actions to go with the lyrics.)

You put your right hand in,
You put your right hand out,
You put your right hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey,
And you turn around,
That’s what it’s all about.

You put your left hand in,
You put your left hand out,
You put your left hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey,
And you turn around,
That’s what it’s all about.

You put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out,
You put your right foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey,
And you turn around,
That’s what it’s all about.

You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out,
You put your left foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey,
And you turn around,
That’s what it’s all about.

You put your whole self in,
You put your whole self out,
You put your whole self in
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey Pokey,
And you turn around,
That’s what it’s all about.

27. The Wheels on the Bus Lyrics

The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, Round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town.

The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish.
Swish, swish, swish.
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,
All through the town.

The doors on the bus go open and shut,
Open and shut, open and shut
The doors on the bus go open and shut,
All through the town

The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep,
Beep, beep, beep.
Beep, beep, beep.
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep,
All through the town.

The people on the bus go up and down,
Up and down,
Up and down.
The people on the bus go up and down,
All through the town.

The baby on the bus goes “Wah, wah, wah”,
“Wah, wah, wah”,
“Wah, wah, wah”.
The baby on the bus goes “Wah, wah, wah”.
All through the town.

The mummy’s on the bus go “Shh, shh, shh”,
“Shh, shh, shh”,
“Shh, shh, shh”.
The mummy’s on the bus go “Shh, shh, shh”.
All through the town.

The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round,
Round and round.
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town.

28. This Old Man Lyrics

This old man, he played one
He played knick-knack on my thumb
Knick-knack paddy whack
Give the dog the bone
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played two
He played knick-knack on my shoe
Knick-knack paddy whack
Give the dog the bone
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played three
He played knick-knack on my knee
Knick-knack paddy whack
Give the dog the bone
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played four
He played knick-knack on my door
Knick-knack paddy whack
Give the dog the bone
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played five
He played knick-knack on my hive
Knick-knack paddy whack
Give the dog the bone
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played six
He played knick-knack with some sticks
Knick-knack paddy whack
Give the dog the bone
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played seven
He played knick-knack up in Heaven
Knick-knack paddy whack
Give the dog the bone
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played eight
He played knick-knack on my gate
Knick-knack paddy whack
Give the dog the bone
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played nine
He played knick-knack on my spine
Knick-knack paddy whack
Give the dog the bone
This old man came rolling home.

This old man, he played ten
He played knick-knack once again
Knick-knack paddy whack
Give the dog the bone
This old man came rolling home.

29. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Lyrics

(Everyone loves a classic, this English nursery rhyme is a family favourite in many homes.)

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
When you shower your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

30. Wind the bobbin up Lyrics

Wind the bobbin up, wind the bobbin up
Pull, pull, clap clap clap
Wind the bobbin up, wind the bobbin up
Pull, pull, clap clap clap

Point to the ceiling, point to the floor
Point to the window, point to the door
Clap your hands together, 1, 2, 3,
Put your hands down on your knees

Looking for more? Read these posts next:

• Mother Goose Rhymes
• Baby Lullabies
• Short and Fun Kids Poems

Fun Rhymes and Nursery Songs to sing with your kids!

I hope you enjoy this list of popular English nursery rhymes for kids with lyrics and have fun singing along with your kids. For further reading, check out why nursery rhymes are so important.

If you have any other favourite English nursery rhymes with lyrics which are not listed, please let us know in the comments!

You are looking at our list of Nursery Rhymes in English, but we also have them in bilingual, Spanish, and Chinese too!

Looking for other English resources? Take a look at our English for Kids page. Don’t miss our Top story books for kids and the best sites where you can find FREE kids books online to read anywhere 🙂

Raising a bilingual child? Subscribe for related articles. Follow Bilingual KidSpot on Facebook and join our private discussion group.

If you prefer more unconventional nursery rhymes, take a look at this post on unexpected lullabies.

Best Nursery Rhymes for Kids

The best and most popular children’s nursery rhymes are long-lasting for a reason—a few, in fact! They’re fun, educational and thanks to their ear worm melodies, usually impossible to forget… That’s the power of nursery rhymes, and why they’ve been passed along from generation to generation, some as far back as the 1600s!

Whether you’re looking for classic English nursery rhymes, Spanish nursery rhymes, French nursery rhymes, the most popular nursery rhymes or the most interactive nursery rhymes, you’ll find them all here. Scroll to see the 20 that made The Bump’s top list!

Popular Nursery Rhymes for Babies

What qualifies as popular nursery rhymes for babies? The ones that not only get stuck in your head, but are easy enough for a little one to wrap his tongue around with a little practice. These nursery rhymes may be inspirational (“Star Light, Star Bright”), funny (“Three Blind Mice”), even interactive (“This Little Piggy”). But all of these nursery rhyme songs have one thing in common: They’re adored by even the littlest singers.

“Star Light, Star Bright”
Bump Love: “Star Light, Star Bright” is one of the most popular nursery rhymes of all time—as it should be. It’s the original “When You Wish Upon a Star,” and perhaps the easiest way to encourage a kid to dream.

Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have this wish I wish tonight.

“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
Bump Love: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” adapted from a 19th century poem by Jane Taylor, is one of the prettiest nursery rhymes, which is why so many people have composed to it—including Mozart!

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!

(Fun fact: There are two more verses, should you want to include them!) When the blazing sun is gone, When he nothing shines upon, Then you show your little light, Twinkle, twinkle, all the night. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!

Then the traveler in the dark Thanks you for your tiny spark; He could not see which way to go, If you did not twinkle so. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!

“Jack and Jill”
Bump Love: When it comes to famous nursery rhymes, who can resist the tale of the mischievous siblings who made it to the top of the hill, only to roll all the way back down? (Also, #RealLifeLessons.)

Jack and Jill went up the hill, To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.

“I’m a Little Teapot”
Bump Love: If you have a little one who’s nervous about hitting the dance floor, teach him or her the pantomime-friendly “I’m a Little Teapot” (by George Harold Sanders and Clarence Z. Kelley). The nursery rhyme and accompanying choreography was created for the youngest students at Kelley’s dance school in 1939, and indeed, kids have been rocking “The Little Teapot” ever since.

I’m a little teapot Short and stout Here is my handle; [one hand on hip] Here is my spout. [other arm out straight]

When I get all steamed up Hear me shout: [lean over toward spout] “Tip me over and pour me out!”
“Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” Bump Love: It’s perfect for a baby, because nearly everything in it is easy to pronounce. And what little guy can resist the idea of snuggling up to a big, fluffy lamb?

Baa, baa, black sheep, Have you any wool? Yes, sir, yes, sir, Three bags full; One for the master, And one for the dame, And one for the little boy Who lives down the lane.
“The Muffin Man” Bump Love: Carbs! (Kidding.) No, “The Muffin Man” is one of the most popular nursery rhymes thanks to its guessing-game style. (A hilarious tribute in Shrek doesn’t hurt either. )

Oh, do you know the muffin man, The muffin man, the muffin man, Oh, do you know the muffin man, That lives on Drury Lane?

Oh, yes, I know the muffin man, The muffin man, the muffin man, Oh, yes, I know the muffin man, That lives on Drury Lane.
“This Little Piggy” Bump Love: One of the most interactive nursery rhymes, “This Little Piggy” is the one that’s all about the toes! Wiggle one toe for each “little piggy” and baby will be reduced to giggles. Every. Time.

This little piggy went to market, This little piggy stayed home, This little piggy had roast beef, This little piggy had none, And this little piggy went Wee, wee, wee, all the way home!
“Three Blind Mice” Bump Love: “Three Blind Mice” makes the list for being one of the most popular Mother Goose nursery rhymes of all time—despite the fact that it’s actually quite dark! (Three mice, out for adventure, who end up blind and tail-less? Very un-chill.)

Three blind mice, Three blind mice See how they run, See how they run!

They all ran after The farmer’s wife She cut off their tails With a carving knife Did you ever see Such a sight in your life As three blind mice?
“Itsy Bitsy Spider” Bump Love: The message here? Resilience! Which is always a good one in nursery rhymes. And since it’s so popular, this is also a fun one to teach in Spanish.

The itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out. Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain, and the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.
“Old MacDonald Had a Farm” Bump Love: What’s great about “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” as a nursery rhyme is that you can take it anywhere. Each verse gets a new animal and a new animal sound, which can be really fun for children—and sneakily educational.

Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O And on his farm he had a cow E-I-E-I-O With a moo-moo here And a moo-moo there Here a moo, there a moo Everywhere a moo-moo Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O

Popular Nursery Rhymes for Kids

For The Bump’s purposes, the only real difference between popular nursery rhymes for babies and popular nursery rhymes for kids is the difficulty level. The nursery rhymes in this category can be a little wordier (“Wynken, Blynken, and Nod”). They can be a little more complicated (the coordinated clapping of “Bingo”). And sometimes, they just hit your heart in a different way (like “Lavender’s Blue”). This group of nursery rhymes is for preschoolers and up.
“Bingo” Bump Love: This English folk song, first published in 1780, is beloved around the world—there’s even an Italian translation: “C’era un contadino che aveva un cagnolino di nome Bingolino.” There’s endless clapping involved, and everyone knows that clapping nursery rhymes are the best nursery rhymes.

There was a farmer who had a dog, And Bingo was his name-O. B-I-N-G-O! B-I-N-G-O! B-I-N-G-O! And Bingo was his name-O!

There was a farmer who had a dog, And Bingo was his name-O. [Clap]-I-N-G-O! [Clap]-I-N-G-O! [Clap]-I-N-G-O! And Bingo was his name-O!

There was a farmer who had a dog, And Bingo was his name-O! [Clap - Clap]-N-G-O! [Clap - Clap]-N-G-O! [Clap - Clap]-N-G-O! And Bingo was his name-O!

There was a farmer who had a dog, And Bingo was his name-O. [Clap - Clap - Clap]-G-O! [Clap - Clap - Clap]-G-O! [Clap - Clap - Clap]-G-O! And Bingo was his name-O!

There was a farmer who had a dog, And Bingo was his name-O. [Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap]-O! [Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap]-O! [Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap]-O! And Bingo was his name-O!

There was a farmer who had a dog, And Bingo was his name-O. [Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap] [Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap] [Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap - Clap] And Bingo was his name-O!
“The Grand Old Duke of York” Bump Love: While it doesn’t sound like the Duke of York was the most productive of Dukes, we love the melody of this classic nursery rhyme. Plus, it encourages movement: The kids can stand when the soldiers go up and sit when the soldiers go down. (And they can have a jolly good time figuring out what to do when the soldiers are “neither up nor down.”)

Oh, the grand old Duke of York, He had ten thousand men, He marched them up to the top of the hill, And he marched them down again.

And when they were up they were up. And when they were down they were down. And when they were only halfway up, They were neither up nor down.
“Little Jack Horner” Bump Love: File this one under great holiday nursery rhymes. (Also see: “Deck the Halls” and “I Have a Little Dreidel.”)

Little Jack Horner Sat in the corner, Eating a Christmas pie; He put in his thumb, And pulled out a plum, And said, “What a good boy am I!”
*“Lavender’s Blue” * Bump Love: While the earliest versions of the “Lavender’s Blue” nursery rhyme date back to the 1600s, we especially love this romantic take, which appeared in Disney’s live-action Cinderella (2015).

Lavender’s blue, dilly, dilly, Lavender’s green, When I am king, dilly, dilly, You shall be queen.

Ho told you so, dilly, dilly, Who told you so? ’Twas my own heart, dilly, dilly, That told me so.

Call up your men, dilly, dilly, Set them to work, Some to the plough, dilly, dilly, Some to the fork.

Some to make hay, dilly, dilly, Some to cut corn, While you and I, dilly, dilly, Keep ourselves warm.

Lavender’s green, dilly, dilly, Lavender’s blue, If you love me, dilly, dilly, I will love you.

Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly, And the lambs play, We shall be safe, dilly, dilly, Out of harm’s way.

I love to dance, dilly, dilly, I love to sing, When I am queen, dilly, dilly, You’ll be my king.

Who told me so, dilly, dilly, Who told me so? I told myself, dilly, dilly, I told me so.
“This Is the Way” Bump Love: Sung to the tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush,” “This Is the Way” is one of the few nursery rhymes devoted to something crucial: making getting ready to go to school fun! (Because, let’s face it, even kids can get a case of the Mondays.)

This is the way we wash our face, wash our face, wash our face. This is the way we wash our face. Early in the morning.

Wash wash wash Wash wash wash.

This is the way we comb our hair, comb our hair, comb our hair. This is the way we comb our hair. Early in the morning.

Comb comb comb Comb comb comb.

This is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth. This is the way we brush our teeth. Early in the morning.

Brush brush brush Brush brush brush.

This is the way we get dressed, get dressed, get dressed. This is the way we get dressed. Early in the morning.

This is the way we go to school, go to school, go to school. This is the way we go to school. Early in the morning.
“Wynken, Blyken and Nod” Bump Love: Eugene Field’s 1889 tale, originally titled “Dutch Lullaby,” has been many things: a poem, a nursery rhyme, a lullaby, even a film. (It was part of Walt Disney’s Silly Symphonies.) No matter how you remember it, it’s a whimsical story, made all the more so when accompanied by the beautiful illustrations of Coral Keehn.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night Sailed off in a wooden shoe, Sailed on a river of crystal light Into a sea of dew. “Where are you going, and what do you wish?” The old moon asked the three. “We have come to fish for the herring-fish That live in this beautiful sea; Nets of silver and gold have we," Said Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song, As they rocked in the wooden shoe; And the wind that sped them all night long Ruffled the waves of dew; The little stars were the herring-fish That lived in the beautiful sea. “Now cast your nets wherever you wish,” “Never afraid are we!” So cried the stars to the fishermen three, Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

All night long their nets they threw To the stars in the twinkling foam, Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe, Bringing the fishermen home: ‘Twas all so pretty a sail, it seemed As if it could not be; And some folk thought ‘twas a dream they’d dreamed Of sailing that beautiful sea; But I shall name you the fishermen three: Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes, And Nod is a little head, And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies Is a wee one’s trundle-bed; So shut your eyes while Mother sings Of wonderful sights that be, And you shall see the beautiful things As you rock in the misty sea Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three: Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

French Nursery Rhymes

Yep, you guessed it! This is where the international portion of our nursery rhymes begin. We’ll start with two of the most popular French nursery rhymes, perfect for the budding Francophile.
“Frère Jacques” Bump Love: There are a number of lovely French nursery rhymes, but since this one has an English translation built right into it, it’s perfect for French lessons!

Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques, Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? Sonnez les matines, Sonnez les matines. Ding, Dang, Dong, Ding, Dang, Dong.

(English verse, which you can alternate between) Are you sleeping, Are you sleeping? Brother John, Brother John? Morning bells are ringing, Morning bells are ringing. Ding, Ding, Dong, Ding, Ding, Dong.
“Alouette” Bump Love: If you’re teaching your little one French (or are French!), “Alouette,” about plucking feathers from a bird who wakes you up at the crack of dawn, is another favorite among French nursery rhymes. Yes, the story is a touch aggressive. But the tune is an undeniable earworm! And it’s the perfect song to sing first thing in the morning.

Alouette, gentille alouette, Alouette, je te plumerai.

Je te plumerai la tête, Je te plumerai la tête, Et la tête, et la tête, Alouette, alouette… Ooooh!

Spanish Nursery Rhymes

And last, but certainly not least, we have two popular Spanish nursery rhymes. While many of the English nursery rhymes on this list have been translated into French or Spanish, too—here’s “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” sung in Spanish—there are a few nursery rhymes that are unique to Spanish-speaking countries. Here are two of our favorites.
“Cucú Cantaba la Rana” Bump Love: A beauty among Spanish nursery rhymes, “Cucú Cantaba la Rana” is about a singing frog with a beautiful call and all the people she passes in a day. Just listen to it performed.

Cucú, cucú cantaba la rana Cucú, cucú debajo del agua Cucú, cucú paso un caballero Cucú, cucú de capa y sombrero Cucú, cucú paso una señora Cucú, cucú con traje de cola Cucú, cucú pasó un marinero Cucú, cucú vendiendo floreros Cucú, cucú pidiole un ramito Cucú, cucú y no se lo dieron Cucú, cucú se puso a llorar Cucú, cucú
“A Mi Burro” Bump Love: “A Mi Burro,” about a donkey having a sick day, is one of the most popular Spanish nursery rhymes. Because nearly everything hurts the donkey at one point in the song, kids learn all about the body and the importance of resting up to feel better.

A mi burro, a mi burro le duele la cabeza; y el médico le ha dado una gorrita gruesa.

Una gorrita gruesa, mi burro enfermo está mi burro enfermo esta

One, two, three, Christmas tree - burn! Poems for children in English

It's no secret that a child's brain and memory are much more mobile than those of an adult. It is easier for children to memorize new words and information in general. So early age is the best time to start learning foreign languages. But how to do it so that the baby does not get bored and is not naughty during classes?

The answer is obvious: you need to make the learning process interesting and exciting for the child. This is where simple verses in English and easy-to-memorize songs come to the aid of parents.

In this article you will find not only simple rhymes in English for kids, but also interesting children's poems with translation for older children.

If you have already learned the alphabet and the first sets of words in English with your child, then it's time to consolidate your knowledge in simple poems and songs. By the way, poems are translated into English as poems, and songs are translated as songs.

These verses are for children who have not yet gone to school and study at home with their parents or in a special language kindergarten. Such verses are mainly aimed at repeating words and consolidating simple vocabulary.

Regardless of the level of knowledge of the child, we recommend that you always start learning poetry in English immediately with the translation, so that the child does not just memorize sounds and words, but comprehends the entire verse.

For example, this rhyme helps not only to learn family members, but also to repeat the alphabet:

ABCDE This is my family
GHIJ I love them every day0022
PQRST Brother, sister, you can see
UVWXYZ All the people in my family