November is a wonderful time to snuggle up with a cosy blanket, turn the pages of a favourite book, and let imaginations run wild. At Wellies Day Nursery, we’re celebrating Nursery Rhyme Week. It's the perfect opportunity to share our love of stories, songs, and rhymes with our youngest learners.
For children aged one to three, stories and rhymes are much more than just fun. They help little ones make sense of the world around them, develop early language skills, and build the confidence to communicate and express themselves.
Why Stories and Rhymes Matter
Even before children can read or speak clearly, stories and rhymes play a vital role in their development. Listening to rhymes helps children hear the rhythm and melody of language, which supports early speech and listening skills. Sharing stories together also creates moments of comfort and connection. Those quiet times spent reading with a familiar adult help children feel safe, calm, and loved.
Stories and rhymes encourage focus too. Their repetitive nature helps little ones learn to follow along, anticipate what happens next, and take turns joining in. They also spark imagination. When children hear about a talking pumpkin or a spider climbing up a spout, they begin to explore ideas, feelings, and possibilities, all through the power of words.
Nursery Rhyme Week Fun at Wellies
Nursery Rhyme Week is always a highlight in our calendar. Throughout the week, our rooms are filled with singing, laughter, and playful learning. Each day we explore a different rhyme, such as Incy Wincy Spider, Row, Row, Row Your Boat, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Familiar rhymes like these give children the chance to repeat sounds, remember patterns, and build confidence in using new words.
We also bring rhymes to life through creative play. The children act out stories with puppets and props, becoming little spiders, sailors, or stars in their own mini performances. Our craft sessions are full of imagination too, making sparkly stars, rain clouds, and paper sheep to match the day’s rhyme. Even our youngest babies join in with gentle songs such as Wind the Bobbin Up and Pat-a-Cake, which are perfect for movement, rhythm, and bonding.
Behind all the fun lies a lot of learning. Singing rhymes helps children recognise patterns and sounds in speech, which is a key building block for reading later on. The actions that go with the songs support coordination and motor skills, while group singing helps develop confidence and social interaction. Every giggle, clap, and rhyme line is helping children learn without even realising it.
Keeping the Rhyme Going at Home
You don’t need special books or instruments to enjoy rhymes with your child, just your voice and a few moments together each day. Try singing during bath time, on the school run, or while getting dressed. Simple actions like climbing fingers for Incy Wincy Spider or rowing arms for Row, Row, Row Your Boat make it even more fun and memorable. Repeating the same songs again and again helps children recognise the rhythm and join in more each time.
If your little one starts to finish the last word of a line or points when their favourite part comes up, that’s a wonderful sign of developing language and memory. Making up your own silly versions together can be just as valuable, laughter makes learning stick!
Our Favourite Autumn Stories for Little Learners
Alongside rhymes, we love sharing books that reflect the season. Our reading corners are full of colourful, sensory-friendly stories perfect for curious hands and growing imaginations. Some of our favourites include That’s Not My Hedgehog by Fiona Watt, Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper, Fox’s Socks by Julia Donaldson, and Peekaboo Pumpkin by Camilla Reid.
These stories encourage children to point, repeat familiar phrases, and talk about what they see. Even if they’re not yet speaking clearly, they’re learning about rhythm, sequence, and storytelling with every page.
Every Story and Rhyme Counts
At Wellies Day Nursery, we believe that every rhyme sung and every story shared helps your child’s confidence, communication, and imagination grow. Whether it’s through a bedtime book, a sing-along in the car, or a giggly circle time at nursery, every word you share helps build the foundation for a lifelong love of reading.
Stories may be short, but their impact lasts forever.
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