Nursery Rhymes

The classic nursery rhymes with their full lyrics, simple hand motions and the true stories behind them. Every rhyme can be printed in one click for bedtime, circle time or the classroom.

433 nursery rhymes, each with the full lyrics, hand motions, history and a printable copy. See the full list or browse by type.

Popular Nursery Rhymes

Twinkle Twinkle Little StarTwinkle, twinkle, little starHumpty DumptyHumpty Dumpty sat on a wallBaa Baa Black SheepBaa, baa, black sheepJack and JillJack and Jill went up the hillHickory Dickory DockHickory, dickory, dock!Rock-a-Bye BabyRock-a-bye, baby, on the treetopRing Around the RosieRing around the rosieLondon Bridge Is Falling DownLondon Bridge is falling downLittle Miss MuffetLittle Miss MuffetHey Diddle DiddleHey, diddle, diddle!Three Blind MiceThree blind mice! See how they run!Old Mother HubbardOld Mother Hubbard

Recently Added

A Bag o' Malt, a Bag o' SaltA bag o' malt, a bag o' saltA' the Nicht Owre and OwreA' the nicht owre and owreAs I Was Going to Derby (The Derby Ram)As I was going to Derby upon a market dayAs I Was Walking O'er Little MoorfieldsAs I was walking o'er little MoorfieldsAwa', Birds, Awa'Awa', birds, awa'Betsy BungayHi, Betsy Bungay, all day on SundayBuff Says Buff to All His MenBuff says Buff to all his menButterfly, Butterfly, Whence Do You Come?Butterfly, butterfly, whence do you come?Cantaloupes! Cantaloupes!Cantaloupes! Cantaloupes! What is the price?Chap at the DoorChap at the doorCharley WagCharley WagCharley Warley Had a CowCharley Warley had a cow

Nursery Rhymes by Type

Lullabies26 rhymesAnimal Rhymes119 rhymesCounting Rhymes34 rhymesAction Songs99 rhymesMother Goose260 rhymes

Why Sing Nursery Rhymes With Children?

Nursery rhymes are one of the easiest ways to build early language skills. The strong beat and repeated sounds help children hear how words are built, which supports reading later on. Rhymes like One, Two, Buckle My Shoe practice counting, action songs like London Bridge build coordination, and lullabies like Wee Willie Winkie turn bedtime into a calm routine.

Many of these rhymes are hundreds of years old. Each page explains where the rhyme comes from and what it means, including the popular myths that turn out not to be true.

All Nursery Rhymes A to Z

Browse every rhyme by the first letter of its title.

A56 rhymesB19 rhymesC27 rhymesD17 rhymesE5 rhymesF9 rhymesG9 rhymesH34 rhymesI29 rhymesJ7 rhymesK1 rhymeL28 rhymesM17 rhymesN2 rhymesO21 rhymesP17 rhymesQ2 rhymesR14 rhymesS21 rhymesT79 rhymesU3 rhymesW14 rhymesY2 rhymes

Know a rhyme we are missing? Maybe one your family sang, or a different version of a classic. Tell us on our contact page and we will look it up and add it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a nursery rhyme?
A nursery rhyme is a short traditional poem or song for young children. Most were passed down by families for generations before anyone printed them, which is why the same rhyme can have slightly different words in different places.
What is the most popular nursery rhyme?
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is one of the best known worldwide, together with Humpty Dumpty, Baa Baa Black Sheep and Jack and Jill.
Who was Mother Goose?
Mother Goose is an imaginary author, not a real person. Her name appeared on collections of traditional rhymes from the 1700s, such as Mother Goose's Melody, printed in London around 1765, and it has been attached to classic rhymes ever since.
At what age should children learn nursery rhymes?
You can start from birth. Babies enjoy the rhythm and your voice long before they understand the words. Around ages 2 to 5 children begin joining in, finishing lines and doing the actions, which is when rhymes help most with early reading skills.
Can I print the lyrics?
Yes. Every rhyme page has a Print the lyrics button that prints a clean page with just the words, ideal for classrooms, circle time and bedtime.