There are just wonderful memories about childhood especially when they are related to children’s songs. The tone, tune and lyrics of children’s songs is apt for their age and the best way to teach the child little things about routine life, activities, animal names and counting is through songs. Spanish culture also involved much about musical instruments and folk songs. There are narrations through folks songs and dance naturally forms a part of any traditional ritual.
Nursery and playgroup adopt easy sing song methods initially to make it fun for the children. As the kids place more confidence on the teacher or their care giver the concepts of shapes, colours, alphabets and cries of animals can be incorporated by ways of songs. The easiest way to teach opposites is through songs and children love to enact through actions. The nursery rhyme of ‘Fum Fum Fum’ is actually a small hymn praising the Lord and being happy at the birth of Jesus Christ on 25th December. Chocolate molinillo is a great song with the sports of catching the person. It signifies a chase and most loved by kids.
Brother John song from the English has its perfect translation in ‘Martinillo’ where the wordings refer to encourage the child to wake as it is morning. Rain is the most loved subject by children. The beauty of the tiny and huge drops, a rainbow, puddles and paper boats and quiet window watching from indoors are loved by kids. There is the perfect rain description in the rain song, which encourages a downpour and the beauty of the meadow. It also gives importance to rain and the beauty of birds and clouds. The concluding line is where the kid says that it does not wish to get wet but still loves the rain.
‘Arroz con leche’ is the rice pudding song. This is a little mature concept where playfully the singer says he would love to get married to a homely lady who love to cook and sew. ‘Jugando al escondite’ a Hide and Seek song where there are animals like the cuckoo bird and the wolf who will eat all of them if found. Children love the mingling of drama and scare as they no this is just a game.
There is more fun in Peter was Bald song as ‘A Pedro como era calvo’. As Peter used to get stung by the mosquitoes who often sat on his bald pate, his father told him to use the bonnet to ward off the insects. This comes as a hilarious narration and sure to be loved by kids. There is surely an essence of folk tradition in the nursery rhymes and songs for children which can be used as a pastime indoor activity or used as a soothing lullaby.