Songs for literacy learning for littlies

"It's raining, it's pouring
The old man is snoring
Bumped his head and he went to bed
And he couldn't get up in the morning.
Rain, rain, go away, 
Come again another day".

Check out this YouTube of Peter, Paul and Mary singing this old favourite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no2s8SG6uv4

Singing songs about the weather that is actually happening is a wonderful way of teaching preschoolers that songs, poems, rhymes are linked to our everyday lives.

You can then create a theme or a link to other songs related to the weather that is happening.

In Sydney, today, it is the first day of Autumn and it is so, so rainy.  Usually it is warm and sunny and mild at night; a gorgeous time of the year.

The weather today is a lovely day for ducks or frogs as they say.
So:

Here are my rainy day frog songs to sing and learn with your child.

"Mr Frog jumped out of his pond one day
and found himself in the rain.
Said he "I'll get wet and I might catch a cold".

"AAAHHHCHOOOH!"

So he jumped in the pond again.

If you don't know the tune, just recite it and act out the little story.

My friend's pot plant also reminded me of another frog song.

Da glunk went the little green frog last night (Hand actions: hands up to side of eyes and blink fingers once)

Da glunk went the little green frog 
Da glunk went the little green frog last night
And his eyes went Glunk, Glunk, Glunk (Hand actions: hands up to side of eyes and blink fingers three times)

But
DAAARRRLINGS!

We all know frogs go
'Clap' 
La-de-da-de-dah (both hands 'wave' to the side, for the la-de-da-de-dah)
'Clap' La-de-da-de-dah
'Clap' La-de-da-de-dah

We all know frogs go
'Clap' La-de-da-de-dah
'Clap' La-de-da-de-dah
'Clap' La-de-da-de-dah
They don't go 
Glunk, Glunk, Glunk (Hand actions: hands up to side of eyes and blink fingers three times)


Do you remember the song "A Frog went a courting and he did go ahhah"?
It's an oldie but a goodie and has some humour in it like these other songs.

Get out in the rain in your wet weather gear and splash about singing and acting out songs.  What better way to pass a rainy day with the kids.

Young Children Need to Hear Alliteration. Remember Rhymes?

Alliteration is everywhere.  Adults use it all the time.  Somehow it seems soothing and comfortable in its patterns and rhythms.  
Sayings like busy as a bee, bite the bullet, cream of the crop, dead as a doornail, the more the merrier etc. etc. are common.
I'm sure it's because it reminds us of nursery rhymes from our childhood.

Remember 'Wee, Willie Winkie'?

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,
Rapping at the window, crying through the lock,
"Are all the children in bed, for now it's eight o'clock?"

These rhymes are short and sweet, easy to remember and easy to recite.  Children love them!

Parents and grandparents should teach their little ones to say their favourite rhymes together with them.  Show them the same nursery rhyme in a book so that the children begin to see the link between spoken and written language.  So important and fun!

Getting back to adults.....I even heard Nigella use alliteration on her cooking show on TV the other night.
To quote "The sound of sizzling starts me salivating".
Saucy, sassy stuff :)