Learning made fun

Where do nursery rhymes come from? Ring O'Roses

By Linda Jones

KAREN'S post about a new wave of politically correct nursery rhymes sparked quite a discussion. It's interesting to see how language evolves and the passion this unleashes.

Equally fascinating is the origin of some of our best loved nursery rhymes and the less than fairytale circumstances which have inspired them.

In my last post I reported on the story behind London's Burning. Lisa from Talking Tots brought our attention to the grisly Ring O Roses origins in the comments.

Where do nursery rhymes come from? London's Burning

By Linda Jones

LONDON'S Burning is a hugely popular song, often sung in rounds.  Unless you have lived under a rock for most of your life, you're bound to know the words:

London's burning, London's burning
Fetch the engine, fetch the engine
Fire, fire! Fire, fire!
Pour on water, pour on water

I can well remember belting it out in school music lessons. But these days, it's still loved and can prove great fun for children to sing. I have a friend, who when asked if her daughters sing it, tells me: "Yes they do -- all the time, in the bath and when they wake up!"

What happens during a Musical Minis class?

MUSICAL Minis isn't aiming to teach children to be young musicians, but aims to help children’s development and social skills through music, music being something that most children will respond to.

Our programme has been designed to help parents and carers to join in activities with their children, to encourage the child’s natural attraction to music and to learn good speech with the repetition of nursery rhymes and stories.

Each section is structured to include:

• Action songs – for co-ordination
• Musical stops – to develop listening skills
• Musical instruments – to explore sounds and effects
• Stories – to teach rhythm and introduce early teamwork
• Nursery rhymes and songs – to encourage speech

The music has been especially recorded so it may be followed at a pace suitable for the very young.

Sometimes people get the impression we are all about teaching young children to learn instruments. But we are most certainly not as you can see from the video above.

But what this fun can help a child do, includes:

• Develop language and co-ordination to communicate well 
• Share stories and songs
• Meet new friends
• Grow in confidence by joining in activities in a relaxed group atmosphere
• Get creative exploring instruments, sounds, rhythm and movement

What's your favourite nursery rhyme?

By Linda Jones

CHILDREN and parents at Musical Minis sessions have a lot of laughs singing along and tapping out their versions of tunes to some favourite ditties.

I thought it could be fun to look into the origins of some of our best known tunes. I'd like to know - what's your family's favourite and why? Once I have some feedback, I will research where these timeless favourites come from.

Is there a particular lyric that makes you smile, or even one that makes you a little scared? (I know I used to wonder why on earth everyone was falling down in Ring O' Roses!)

Musical Minis in video - it's all about fun

There's a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes to make sure that the children who come along to Musical Minis have an awful lot of fun.

Sometimes people get the impression we are all about teaching young children to learn instruments. But we are most certainly not as you can see from the video above.

But what this fun can help a child do, includes:

• Develop language and co-ordination to communicate well 
• Share stories and songs
• Meet new friends
• Grow in confidence by joining in activities in a relaxed group atmosphere
• Get creative exploring instruments, sounds, rhythm and movement

The benefits of music to children

Music is a universal language that knows no social, racial or other type of barrier. Each generation enjoys its own 'pop' music; each culture has its own rhythms. A variety of traditional songs and stories can be used to close the generation and culture gaps.

It is hard to ignore the influence that music has on our day to day lives. There are many studies which show the link between learning and music. Whether you are in the “for” or “against” camp in respect of the Mozart Theory (music helps with maths), what is undoubted is that music stimulates the mind and assists with cognitive development. Through music children can develop language, listening skills, coordination and social skills.