Two Little Blackbirds

Posted: Monday, September 10, 2007, 9:50 am

Pretend your thumbs are little blackbirds, all while practicing early literacy skills with your child.

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill,
Hold thumbs up in front.
One named Jack.
Wiggle one thumb.
One named Jill.
Wiggle second thumb.
Fly away, Jack.
Hide first thumb behind your back.
Fly away, Jill.
Hide second thumb behind your back.
Come back, Jack.
Bring first thumb back in front.
Come back, Jill.
Bring second thumb back in front.

Help your child be ready to read by practicing early literacy skills. Rhyming is a great way to promote the ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.

You can help by:

• Saying nursery and nonsense rhymes with your child. Rhymes help children hear the different parts of words.
• Reading books that rhyme together with your child. Ask a Librarian to help you find books that rhyme.

Activities for Babies and Toddlers:

• Singing songs with your child is a fun way for them to hear words being broken up into smaller parts. Sing and listen to music often.
• Read books that rhyme together with your children. Then say some of the words that rhyme, that sound alike. For example, Jill and hill.

Activities for Preschoolers:

• Choose a book that rhymes and then read it together with your child. When you read it again, read and page and then ask your child which words rhyme. When you read it again, read part of the page and leave out the rhyming word. Let your child say the word that rhymes. Make it a game and have some fun!

More like this: early literacy rhymes Audio and video for Babies Audio and video for Preschoolers Audio and video for Toddlers