15 Short Nursery Rhymes for Children

Nursery rhymes are much more important for children than most parents give them credit for. Singing nursery rhymes to your little one can encourage bonding between parents and children.

Short nursery rhymes encourage them to memorize them and expose them to new words to help expand their vocabulary. There are a lot of classic nursery rhymes that we can all remember from our own childhood!

These are a great place to start if you already know them by heart. Then, you can familiarize yourself with some new ones to keep your little one learning. 

1. Humpty Dumpty

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. 

2. Ring Around The Rosie

Ring around the rosy

A pocket full of posie

Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!

3.  Wish Upon A Star

Starlight, star bright, 

First star I see tonight,

I wish I may, I wish I might

Have this wish I wish tonight. 

4. London Bridge

London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down

London Bridge is falling down

My fair lady!

5. Baa Baa Black Sheep

Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!

One for my master, one for my dame, and one for the little boy who lives down the lane.

6. Jack And Jill

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. 

7. Row Row Your Boat

Row, row, row your boat 

Gently down the stream

Merrily, merrily, merrily

Life is but a dream!

8. Itsy Bitsy Spider

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. 

9. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are

Up above the sky so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle, twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are?

10. Five Little Monkeys

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed. 

On fell off and bumped his head!

Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, 

“No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

11. Five Little Ducks Went Swimming One Day

Five little ducks went swimming one day,

Over the hills and far away,

And Mummy Duck said “Quack, quack, quack”

But only four little ducks came back.

Four little ducks went swimming one day,

Over the hills and far away,

And Mummy Duck said “Quack, quack, quack”

But only three little ducks came back.

(continue repeating the verse, counting down until there are no little ducks)

Then Mommy Duck came swimming one day,

Over the hills and far away, 

And Mommy Duck said “Quack, quack, quack”

And all of the little ducks came swimming right back. 

12. Mary Had A Little Lamb

Mary had a little lamb,
whose fleece was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mary went,
the lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day
which was against the rules.

It made the children laugh and play,
to see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned it out,
but still it lingered near,

And waited patiently about,
till Mary did appear.

“Why does the lamb love Mary so?”
the eager children cry.

“Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know.”
the teacher did reply

13. Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Catch a tiger by the toe
If he hollers let him go
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe

14. Hickory, Dickory Dock

Hickory, dickory, dock
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one
The mouse ran down
Hickory, dickory, dock

15. How Many Days Has My Baby To Play?

How many days has my baby to play?
Saturday, Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday, Sunday, Monday.

In Conclusion

Nursery rhymes are great for children! These were all nursery rhymes that I knew as a child, or that my children loved. My littlest still loves the song about the ducks!

If you have rubber ducks, this makes a great bathtub song. She also learned her days of the week thanks to the last song. I hope your kids enjoy them as much as mine have!