The musical value of rhymes

Rhymes are fantastic for kids in so many ways.

Firstly, rhymes help children understand and feel the beat.  When you say a rhyme and bounce a child on your knee, the child learns that the beat is a steady pulse that continues through a rhyme or song.  The child feels the difference between the beat and the rhythm, and develops an understanding of both long before they are able to name or define "beat" or "rhythm".

Secondly, rhyming helps children understand the structure of words.  If they are able to identify rhyming sounds when they are young, this will help them with their literacy later on. Improvising new rhymes is also great fun.

Thirdly, it is good for children to hear rhymes performed expressively.  This shows them that good reading is artfully done.  It is not delivered in a flat drone. Meaning is conveyed in the way the words are delivered.  This becomes a model for their own reading.

Fourthly, it shows children that there is joy to be found in well-crafted words.

Traditional rhymes are great to use (eg Pease Porridge Hot, Hot Cross Buns, etc etc).  There are many great compilations of rhymes for children.  There are also a great many children's books with rhyming words.

Some of my favourite rhyming books for children include:

- Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack (Lynley Dodd) - The words are such a delight to say - I love the opening two lines: "It was drowsily warm with dozens of bees/lazily buzzing through flowers and trees".

- Let's Go Visiting (Sue Williams & Julie Vivas, illust) - suitable for very young children

-  Arabella Miller's Tiny Caterpillar (Clare Jarret) - fantastic if you can get through the book without becoming tongue-tied!

- Over in the Meadow (many versions including Jane Cabrera) Jane's version has beautiful illustrations, very whimsical.  Gwen Turner also did a version of this with superb realistically drawn illustrations.

-  The Man from Snowy River (Banjo Paterson, Freya Blackwood, illust.)  Paterson's rhythm, momentum and brilliant story-telling abilities appeal to older children (and adults).

Image from graphicsfairy.com