Rhymes around the world

Nursery rhymes are perhaps the first forms of play and learning that we share with our children. And the parents of every country and culture have their own rhymes to make their babies and toddlers smile or rock them to sleep.

Earlier this year, favourite nursery rhymes were collected from parents and children in libraries and children’s centres across Southampton. There were rhymes reflecting the many different cultural backgrounds of families across the city.

Southampton parents have now put together a selection of twenty-three rhymes in different languages and provided their own illustrations for them. Sure Start in Southampton is publishing them as a booklet to mark the National Year of Reading. The collection demonstrates the cultural diversity of young families in the city and encourages parents and carers to continue to share traditional rhymes with their children.

The Rhymes Around the World booklet will be launched by the Mayor and Mayoress of Southampton at a special rhyme time at Bitterne Library at 10.00 a.m. on Thursday November 13, where parents and children will join in with rhymes from the booklet. The booklet will then be available free at children’s centres and libraries.

For more information please contact:
Sharon Moore
Manager of Services to Children and Young People
023 8083 2163
sharon.moore@southampton.gov.uk