4 Nursery Rhymes About Animals for Children

4 minutes

Discover four wonderful nursery rhymes about animals for children in the following article. Take note of these classic songs you probably remember from your own childhood.

4 Nursery Rhymes About Animals for Children

Last update: 30 September, 2019

It’s no secret that children adore both animals and songs. That’s why children are so fond of nursery rhymes about animals.

Nursery rhymes teach children new vocabulary and help them to strengthen their memory and concentration. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the most well-known and classic nursery rhymes that have been delighting children for generations.

Children are fascinated by animals of all shapes and sizes and they’re delighted when they can hear all the different sounds that animals make. This is also why one common theme in nursery songs about animals are the sounds that different animals make.

One of the most popular songs about animals for children is Old MacDonald Had a Farm. You can keep adding different animals and sounds to add new verses. It will also help you recall having learned these onomatopoeias as a child.

“Old MacDonald Had a Farm”

Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
And on that farm, he had a pig. E-I-E-I-O.
With an oink oink here.
And an oink oink there.
Here an oink.
There an oink.
Everywhere an oink oink.
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.

Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
And on that farm, he had a duck. E-I-E-I-O.
With a quack quack here.
And a quack quack there.
And an oink oink here.
And an oink oink there.
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.

Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.
And on that farm, he had a horse. E-I-E-I-O.
With a neigh neigh here.
And a neigh neigh there.
And a quack quack here.
And a quack quack there.
And an oink oink here.
And an oink oink there.
Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O.

Nursery rhymes are a fun way to educate young children about animals and to entertain them at the same time. The next example teaches children about self-preservation, the consequences of disobeying instructions, and keeping safe.

Nursery Rhymes About Animals: “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed”

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor
And the doctor said
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!

Four little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor
And the doctor said,
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor
And the doctor said,
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor
And the doctor said,
No more monkeys jumping on the bed!

One little monkey jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Mama called the doctor
And the doctor said,
Put those monkeys right to bed!

It’s also fun for children to imagine animals being out of context and having to follow rules and schedules just like they do. That’s why it’s common in nursery rhymes to find that animals are given anthropomorphic qualities like little monkeys having to go to bed.

Another classic nursery rhyme is called Down By The Bay, which also uses animals in funny, surprising situations.

“Down By The Bay”

Down by the bay.

Where the watermelons grow.

Back to my home

I dare not go.

For if I do

my mother will say,

“Did you ever see a cat wearing a hat?”

Down by the bay.

Down by the bay.
Where the watermelons grow.
Back to my home
I dare not go.
For if I do
My mother will say,
“Did you ever see a goat rowing a boat?”
Down by the bay.

Down by the bay.
Where the watermelons grow.
Back to my home
I dare not go.
For if I do
My mother will say,

“Have you ever seen a bee, sipping iced tea?”

Down by the bay.

Down By The Bay is a great song for children who are slightly older as well because you can challenge them to improvise by coming up with their own combinations and rhymes about animals in funny human situations.

Another common theme in nursery rhymes teaches children to face their fears of some kinds of creepy-crawly fauna like insects. In the next selection, children learn to empathize with the struggle of a spider.

Nursery Rhymes About Animals: “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”

The itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sunshine
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again

In conclusion, we hope you enjoy these nursery rhymes about animals with your children. We know they’re worthwhile because families have been passing them down and sharing them with their families for generations.

Likewise, singing together is an excellent way to enjoy memorable quality time with your kids. Choose your favorite song and start singing!