Rhymes and action songs play a crucial role in your child’s development. It is an easy and fun way of learning. The world of nursery rhymes is full of imagination and creativity. The rhymes not just help in improving your child's listening skills, but even help in boosting his imaginary skills, vocabulary and language skills.
If your toddler has reached the age when he or she can learn nursery rhymes, you must make it a point to introduce more and more rhymes. Sing it along and even you will feel the pleasure of it. However, teaching rhymes in the right way matters a lot. If you aren't sure how to go about it, then look at the following ways of teaching rhymes to your child.
Choose Visual learning: The child will learn quickly if he/she is shown pictures related to the rhymes. The child is attracted to colorful pictures and the images are easily stored in mind. If pictures are shown, it becomes easier for the child to recollect any rhyme.
Go for Rhythm: For effective learning, always assign some tune or rhythm to the rhyme. Music fascinates all and kids are no exception. Also, when sung in a proper rhythm, kids find the ryhmes more interesting.
Focus on Voice modulation and expressions: Use the technique of voice modulation; this will boost both the teaching and learning ability of the rhyme. Be expressive as well, you need to be happy while teaching the rhymes as then only the kids will immaculate that.
Give Explanation: It is very important to explain the rhyme; if the child understands what he/she is reciting, he will pick it up faster.
Be Clear with Pronunciation: While teaching any rhyme, concentrate on the pronunciation of each word. Make sure your child speaks all the words clearly; this will improve his diction and bring clarity in speech.
Tips for parents:
1. Get audio and animated C.D. of rhymes from your local video library.
2. Buy good and colorful rhyme books from a near by book store.
3. Connect rhymes with daily routine/happenings. (For example: when its raining ask your child to recite any rhyme related to rain, or if he sees a cat ask him to recite a rhyme on cat)
4. Most importantly rhymes should be fun for the kids and not a regular study material.