Nursery Rhymes

[Gillg]

I don't think these rhymes are disappearing - I still sing them to my grandchildren and they also sing them at playgroup and nursery, along with more modern ones like "The wheels on the bus go round and round".  "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" is a particular favourite because of the actions (rather more modern, I think) that go with it.

[bearkat]

These rhymes are very much part of our heritage.

Speaking to young mothers from other countries, they are surprised by the number of old songs and rhymes we have in the UK. They have a few but nothing like the amount we have.

[maddys52]

These rhymes are very much part of our heritage.

Speaking to young mothers from other countries, they are surprised by the number of old songs and rhymes we have in the UK. They have a few but nothing like the amount we have.

My OH was born in the middle east and when my children were young my mother in law (Arab and Russian background - don't even think of researching their family history!) would sing them rhymes in Arabic which sounded very much like the English ones we have, in terms of rhythm and timbre. I seem to remember one she tried to translate as being about a bird which left its nest to end up in a dinner - a familiar theme?

[MadaboutRoses1883]

I don't think these rhymes are disappearing - I still sing them to my grandchildren and they also sing them at playgroup and nursery, along with more modern ones like "The wheels on the bus go round and round".  "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" is a particular favourite because of the actions (rather more modern, I think) that go with it.

I now agree, I was talking to my boss yesterday, who has a 2 year old and she sings Horsey Horsey to her little one also, which surprised me. She said her mum used to sing it to her too.

[MadaboutRoses1883]

These rhymes are very much part of our heritage.

Speaking to young mothers from other countries, they are surprised by the number of old songs and rhymes we have in the UK. They have a few but nothing like the amount we have.

My OH was born in the middle east and when my children were young my mother in law (Arab and Russian background - don't even think of researching their family history!) would sing them rhymes in Arabic which sounded very much like the English ones we have, in terms of rhythm and timbre. I seem to remember one she tried to translate as being about a bird which left its nest to end up in a dinner - a familiar theme?

That's really interesting that other countries have similar rhymes to ours.

[Mowsehowse]

These rhymes are very much part of our heritage.

My OH was born in the middle east and when my children were young my mother in law (Arab and Russian background - don't even think of researching their family history!) would sing them rhymes in Arabic which sounded very much like the English ones we have, in terms of rhythm and timbre. I seem to remember one she tried to translate as being about a bird which left its nest to end up in a dinner - a familiar theme?

That's really interesting that other countries have similar rhymes to ours.

It is REALLY interesting!!  Due to  finding an ancestor who was transported to USA, during the 18c, I have been reading up on the subject which I have found fascinating.

Apparently hundreds of thousands of white Europeans were captured and taken into slavery by North African "Turks and Corsairs", so now I am imagining white female slaves looking after "brown babies" and soothing or entertaining them with songs from their homelands. 

Which could possibly explain why some songs resonate? 

[dowdstree]

Not now permitted to teach/sing to children Bah Bah Black Sheep - its considered racist at least in Scotland

Younger grandson was being a playground buddy and some of the younger children, who he was looking after, were playing a game and singing this very old nursery rhyme and a teaching assistant came over and gave them all a telling of  They were aged 6/7 . Grandson says you can still sing it but one word has to be omitted.

No offence to anyone but is this not political correctness gone mad


Dorrie

[GUT]

Not now permitted to teach/sing to children Bah Bah Black Sheep - its considered racist at least in Scotland

Younger grandson was being a playground buddy and some of the younger children, who he was looking after, were playing a game and singing this very old nursery rhyme and a teaching assistant came over and gave them all a telling of  They were aged 6/7 . Grandson says you can still sing it but one word has to be omitted.

No offence to anyone but is this not political correctness gone mad


Dorrie

pOlitical correctness is just crazy.

Baa Baa Blacksheep has exactly nothing to do with race.

Like when poor old Noddy and Big Ears were un trouble over  "gay".

[Treetotal]

If Baa Baa Black Sheep is potentially racist....what about Mary had a Little Lamb whose fleece was white as snow 
Carol