Nursery Rhymes for Kids

A gentle rhyme about a star

In Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, a child looks up at a small star shining high in the night sky. The star appears like a diamond and gives a little light while the child wonders what it is. The rhyme invites children to notice the moon, stars and sky around them. You can share it slowly, pointing upwards as you say the words. After reading, ask your child what they can see at night. Lesson: The world around us gives us many things to notice and wonder about.

Read, sing and talk together

Choose a quiet time and read the rhyme aloud with a gentle beat. Repeat short lines and pause so your child can join in with a word or sound. Point to the pictures, name familiar objects and ask simple questions such as, "What is shining?" or "Where is the sheep?" Let your child move a finger along the page or act out a repeated part. You can compare two rhymes, such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Baa Baa Black Sheep, and talk about their different settings.

Activities after the rhyme

Invite your child to colour a large picture, circle a named object or match two pictures from the rhyme. Make simple movements for actions such as jumping, rocking, waving or tapping. For a speaking activity, hide a picture card and let your child guess what is missing. Older children can put three picture cards in the order of the rhyme or draw a new ending. At home, look for stars, animals, rain or farm sounds that appear in familiar rhymes, then say one line together while you observe them.