What is the most popular nursery rhyme

Table of Contents

  • 1 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Lyrics
  • 2 The Wheels on the Bus Lyrics
  • 3 Old MacDonald Had a Farm Lyrics
  • 4 Itsy Bitsy Spider Lyrics: Nursery Rhymes Songs
  • 5 One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Once I Caught A Fish Alive Lyrics
  • 6 Five Little Speckled Frogs Lyrics
  • 7 Three Little Kittens Lyrics (Traditional Rhymes)
  • 8 Pat a Cake Lyrics
  • 9 Jack and Jill Lyrics
  • 10 Baa Baa Black Sheep Lyrics (Classic Nursery Rhyme)
  • 11 It’s Raining, It’s Pouring Lyrics
  • 12 Row, Row, Row Your Boat Lyrics
  • 13 A Tisket, A Tasket Nursery Rhyme Lyrics
  • 14 Mary Had a Little Lamb Lyrics
  • 15 If You’re Happy and You Know It Lyrics
  • 16 ABC Songs Lyrics
  • 17 I’m a Little Teapot
  • 18 Five Little Ducks
  • 19 Are You Sleeping
  • 20 Five Little Monkeys
  • 21 Three Blind Mice
  • 22 Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
  • 23 Down at the Station
  • 24 Rock-a-Bye, Baby
  • 25 Where is Thumpkin
  • 26 Printable Nursery Rhymes for Kids

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Nursery rhymes songs for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and school age children are a powerful tool to build strong language development.  Furthermore, nursery rhymes songs also build skills such as rhyming, memory, articulation, communication vocabulary, and early reading skills.  If you are looking for printable nursery rhymes song lyrics, scroll down to the bottom of the post, where you will find a collection of printable nursery rhymes for kids.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Lyrics

Mothers and caregivers often associate this popular nursery rhyme with little baby rhymes. It is great for that, but is also great for preschool and kindergarten aged children.

Twinkle twinkle little star,

how I wonder what you are.

Up above the world so high,

like a diamond in the sky. 

Twinkle twinkle little star,

how I wonder what you are.

The Wheels on the Bus Lyrics

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round.

The wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town. 

The horn on the bus goes beep beep beep, beep beep beep, beep beep beep.

The horn on the bus goes beep beep beep, all through the town. 

The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish, swish swish swish, swish swish swish.

The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish, all through the town. 

The babies on the bus go waa waa waa, waa waa waa, waa waa waa.

The babies on the bus go waa waa waa, all through the town.

The kids on the bus go up and down, up and down, up and down.

The kids on the bus go up and down, all through the town.

The driver on the bus says “move on back, move on back, move on back”.

The driver on the bus says “move on back”, all through the town. 

Old MacDonald Had a Farm Lyrics

Old Mac Donald had a farm,

E I E I O

And on his farm, he had a cow.

E I E I O

With a moo, moo here, and a moo, moo there.

Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo, moo.

Old Mac Donald had a farm.

E I E I O

(Continue with other farm animals and sounds, such as pig, horse, sheep, ducks, etc)

Itsy Bitsy Spider Lyrics: Nursery Rhymes Songs

The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout.

Down came the rain, and washed the spider out.

Out came the sun, and dried up all the rain.

And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Once I Caught A Fish Alive Lyrics

One, two, three, four, five.

Once I caught a fish alive.

Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,

then I let it go again.

Why did you let it go?

Because he bit my finger so.

Which finger did he bite?

This little finger on the right. 

Five Little Speckled Frogs Lyrics

Five little speckled frogs sat on a speckled log

Eating some most delicious bugs (yum, yum!)

One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool

Now there are four green speckled frogs

Four little speckled frogs sat on a speckled log

Eating some most delicious bugs (yum, yum!)

One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool

Now there are three green speckled frogs

Three little speckled frogs sat on a speckled log

Eating some most delicious bugs (yum, yum!)

One jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool

Now there are two green speckled frogs

Two little speckled frogs sat on a speckled log

Eating some most delicious bugs (Yum, yum!)

Now there are how many frogs? ONE!

ONE little speckled frog sat on a speckled log

Eating some most delicious bugs. (Yum, yum!)

He jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool

Then there were no speckled frogs! Glug, glug!

Three Little Kittens Lyrics (Traditional Rhymes)

Three little kittens,

they lost their mittens,

and they began to cry.

“Oh, mother dear,”

we sadly fear, 

that we have lost our mittens.

Pat a Cake Lyrics

Pat a cake, pat a cake bakers man.

Bake me a cake as fast as you can.

Roll it and pat it and mark it with a B.

But it in the oven for baby and me.

Jack and Jill Lyrics

Jack and Jill went up the hill

to fetch a pail of water.

Jack fell down, and broke his crown,

and Jill came tumbling after.

Baa Baa Black Sheep Lyrics (Classic Nursery Rhyme)

Baa, baa, black sheep

Have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir

Three bags full.

One for my master

And one for the dame

One for the little boy

Who lives down the lane.

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring Lyrics

It’s raining, it’s pouring.

The old man is snoring.

Went to bed, and bumped his head

and couldn’t get up in the morning.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat Lyrics

Row, row, row your boat

gently down the stream. 

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

life if but a dream.

A Tisket, A Tasket Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

A Tisket, a tasket, a green and yellow basket.

I wrote a letter to my friend, and on the way I dropped it. 

I dropped it, I dropped it, 

and on the way I dropped it.

The little boy, he picked it up,

and put it in his pocket. 

Mary Had a Little Lamb Lyrics

Mary had a little lamb,

it’s fleece was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mary went,

the lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day

and broke the teacher’s rule

And what a time did they have

that day at school.

What is the most popular nursery rhyme

Get this printable poem HERE or on TPT

If You’re Happy and You Know It Lyrics

This classic nursery rhyme is mother goose’s melody that is great for preschool songs, or the perfect song to do with new friends . Little boys and little girl will love the movement used throughout this traditional nursery rhyme.

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet.

If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet.

If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.

If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet.

If you’re happy and you know it, jump up and down.

If you’re happy and you know it, jump up and down.

If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.

If you’re happy and you know it, jump up and down.

If you’re happy and you know it, spin around.

If you’re happy and you know it, spin around.

If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.

If you’re happy and you know it, spin around.

ABC Songs Lyrics

As a former kindergarten teacher, I can’t stress enough the importance of teaching kids the alphabet ABC song before starting kindergarten.  With that being said, please don’t assume your kids “know their ABC’s” just because they know how to sing the song.  

Reciting the song and recognizing the letters and producing their sounds are completely different skills.  However, if they know the song before entering kindergarten, they will already have an interest in learning the letter sounds, and know the sequence of letters in the alphabet.  Therefore, when it comes time to teach the letters, the kids who know the ABC’s alphabet song, will do better at tracking and pointing to the letters as they sing along – building letter recognition naturally.

If you are looking for ways to teach letter sounds and beginning sounds, check out the blog post: 5 Engaging Activities for Beginning Sounds.

A B C D

E F G

H I J K

L M N O P

Q R S T U V

W X Y Z

What is the most popular nursery rhyme

I’m a Little Teapot

Year after year, my students love acting out this fun nursery rhyme. Mother goose nursery rhymes inspire kids to be silly as they act out and recite the nursery rhyme songs.

I’m a little teapot

short and stout.

Here is my handle,

here is my spout.

When I get all steamed up,

hear me shout.

Tip me over, and pour me out. 

Five Little Ducks

Five little ducks went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”

But only four little ducks came back

One, two, three, four

Four little ducks went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”

But only three little ducks came back

One, two, three

Three little ducks went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”

But only two little ducks came back

One, two

Two little ducks went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”

But only one little duck came back

One

One little duck went out one day

Over the hill and far away

Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack, quack”

But none of the ducks came back. 

Are You Sleeping

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping?

Brother John, Brother John?

Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing

Ding dang dong, ding dang dong.

Five Little Monkeys

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed

One fell off and bumped his head

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said

“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Four little monkeys jumping on the bed

One fell off and bumped his head

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said

“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed

One fell off and bumped his head

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said

“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed

One fell off and bumped his head

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said

“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

One little monkey jumping on the bed

He fell off and bumped his head

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said

“Put those monkeys right to bed!”

Three Blind Mice

Three blind mice,

three blind mice,

See how they run,

see how they run.

They all ran after the farmer’s wife

who cut off their tails with a carving knife.

Did you ever see such

a sight in your life,

as three blind mice?

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

Head, shoulders, knees and toes

Knees and toes

Head, shoulders, knees and toes

Knees and toes

And eyes, and ears, and mouth, and nose

Head, shoulders, knees and toes

Knees and toes.

Down at the Station

Down by the station

Early in the morning

See the little pufferbellies

All in a row

See the station master

Turn the little handle

Puff, puff, toot, toot

Off we go!

Rock-a-Bye, Baby

Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetops,

When the wind blows, the cradle will rock,

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,

And down will come baby, cradle and all.

Where is Thumpkin

This nursery rhyme song for kids is a great way to incorporate fine motor skills, as the kids use hand muscles to hold up one finger at a time.

Where is Thumbkin? Where is Thumbkin?

Here I am! Here I am!

How are you today, sir?

Very well, I thank you

Run away, Run away

Where is Pointer? Where is Pointer?

Here I am! Here I am!

How are you today, sir?

Very well, I thank you

Run away Run away

Where is Tallman? Where is Tallman?

Here I am! Here I am!

How are you today, sir?

Very well, I thank you

Run away, Run away

Where is Ringman? Where is Ringman?

Here I am! Here I am!

How are you today, sir?

Very well, I thank you

Run away, Run away

Where is Pinkie? Where is Pinkie?

Here I am! Here I am!

How are you today, sir?

Very well, I thank you

Run away, Run away 

Printable Nursery Rhymes for Kids

As your kids learn the best nursery rhymes songs, use these printables to start teaching concepts of print (pointing to words as you sing the poem together).  Keep them all together in a special binder to make a personalized poetry notebook, and revisit them frequently. Popular rhymes such as the ones shown on this post are great practice for rhyming words.

If you’re looking for more of the popular English Nursery rhymes, such as Hot Cross Buns, There Was an Old Woman, Humpty Dumpty, Hey Diddle Diddle, Three Little Pigs, Hickory Dickory Dock, check out my other blog post, 34 Favorite Nursery Rhymes for Kids.

Before you go, here are a few popular blog posts you will enjoy:

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Nursery Rhymes Songs

What is the most famous nursery rhyme in the world?

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” Bump Love: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” adapted from a 19th century poem by Jane Taylor, is one of the prettiest nursery rhymes, which is why so many people have composed to it—including Mozart! Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are.

What is the most famous rhyme?

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are, Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky; Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the king's horses and all the king's men Couldn't put Humpty together again.
This Little Piggy Went to Market..
Round and Round the Garden..
Jack in the Box..
Row, Row, Row Your Boat..
Old MacDonald Had a Farm..
Humpty Dumpty..
The Grand Old Duke of York..
Pat-a-Cake..

What nursery rhyme is the oldest?

Ding Dong Bell is the oldest recorded nursery rhyme in the English language. In the earliest version of this rhyme, recorded in 1580 by John Lange, the organist of Winchester Cathedral, the unfortunate cat does not make it out of the well, and the bells are a death knell.
The most subscribed-to YouTube channel in the United States is an animated kid's channel called "Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes," which is also third globally behind PewDiePie and T-Series.

Are there any modern nursery rhymes?

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around is a modern nursery rhyme and action song with recent origins. Each verse of this rhyme has a corresponding action and the song is best used in group settings, in camps, preschools or kindergartens.