It's a Nursery Rhyme Rumble!

Saturday 26 October 2019

The start of this half term means the start of Nursery Rhyme Rumbles - a joint initiative between the Guille-Allès Library and other educational and childcare organisations.

Promising to "breathe new life" in to traditional nursery rhymes, the Rumble has already seen the library work with the States of Guernsey Early Years Team and service partners including early years settings and speech and language therapy teams.

Participating Early Years groups were assigned one nursery rhyme to work on this term, from Little Bo Peep to Hickory Dickory Dock. The children have worked hard to produce artwork inspired by their rhyme, and it will be exhibited in the Children’s Library during half-term along with a digital display of photographs.

BBC Guernsey have recorded each group of children singing their given rhyme, with the recordings now available on a CD that has been donated to each setting by the Library.

Kate Hynes, Early Years Education Officer for the States of Guernsey, said: “Nursery Rhyme Rumble is an exciting opportunity to breathe new life into traditional nursery rhymes. Research shows that they are crucial in early language development, as their sing-song, repetitive rhythm boosts listening comprehension and helps give children a richer, more diverse vocabulary.”

Cornelia James, Children’s Services Manager at the Guille-Allès Library, said: “Nursery rhymes have always been a key part of the Library’s preschool offering. They’re important for language development, they promote parent-child bonding, and they’re lots of fun. We’re delighted to be working with the States Early Years Team and our other partners on this wonderful project.”

Over half-term the Library will be running a full programme to support Nursery Rhyme Rumble, with special rhyme times in the Children’s Library every day. More information can be found at library.gg/nursery-rhyme-rumble.

Pictured top: Humpty Dumpty inset over the Guilles Alles Library.