Rhythm & Rhyme: World Nursery Rhyme Week in Action

At Hiba Academy Hangzhou (Nursery), we take great pride in fostering a dynamic and nurturing environment for our young learners. This week, we dedicated our efforts to celebrating the joyous occasion of World Nursery Rhyme Week. This fantastic week-long event was packed with a series of delightful and immersive activities that aimed to ignite a passion for nursery rhymes, enhance language skills, and create treasured memories for both children and staff. 

One of the cornerstones of our celebration was the enchanting activity we dubbed "Nursery Rhyme Time!" Each day, during our children’s adventure time, we would play a nursery rhyme at various intervals. The magic lies in the spontaneity—whenever the children's favourite nursery rhymes began to play, everyone would stop what they were doing, gather together, and sing along with glee. 

This spontaneous burst of joyful melody and rhythm brought an infectious energy to our nursery, fostering a love for poetry and music, and created countless moments of shared happiness and laughter. These sing-along sessions not only provided entertainment but have been pivotal in enhancing the children’s cognitive and emotional development, as well as establishing a strong sense of community and togetherness. 

In preparation for this cherished week, our dedicated teachers and enthusiastic children engaged in a delightful activity—pre-recording their favourite nursery rhymes for Duke Box Radio. This initiative began weeks before the event, allowing participants ample time to select, practice, and record their renditions of beloved nursery rhymes. As a result, our Duke Box Radio was filled with a heartwarming collection of recordings that captured the voices and spirit of our community.

Throughout World Nursery Rhyme Week, these recordings were played at various times of the day, filling the air with familiar tunes and joyful voices. This activity not only allowed children to hear their voices broadcasted, creating a heightened sense of excitement and pride but also enabled them to appreciate the diverse selection of nursery rhymes enjoyed by their peers and teachers. 

Another highlight of our celebrations was the "Nursery Rhyme Scavenger Hunt." We transformed the nursery into a thrilling adventure playground where children set off on a quest to uncover hidden nursery rhymes. Colourful symbols and clues were strategically placed around the nursery, each leading to the discovery of a different nursery rhyme. 

As children found each symbol, they would sing the corresponding rhyme, earning a stamp on their stamp card for every successful find. This engaging activity not only encouraged teamwork and problem-solving skills but also reinforced the children’s knowledge and recall of various nursery rhymes. 

The joy and sense of accomplishment the children felt as they completed their colourful stamp cards were palpable, making this scavenger hunt an extraordinary learning experience filled with excitement and discovery. 

To embrace and celebrate the rich cultural diversity within our community, we launched an awe-inspiring project—The Big-ish Book of Bilingual Nursery Rhymes. We invited each class to contribute a nursery rhyme in both their native language and in English, crafting a beautifully illustrated booklet that showcases the multicultural essence of Hiba Academy Hangzhou (Nursery). This collaborative effort brought together children, parents and teachers, each contributing to a tapestry of linguistic and cultural richness. 

Printed copies of this bilingual booklet were distributed to each class, providing the children with a delightful resource to explore nursery rhymes from different cultures and languages. This initiative not only expanded their linguistic abilities and cultural awareness but also instilled a deep appreciation for the diverse world we live in, fostering inclusivity and respect from an early age. 

Our week-long celebration of World Nursery Rhyme Week at Hiba Academy Hangzhou (Nursery) has been nothing short of phenomenal. Through these carefully curated activities, we have created a vibrant and nurturing environment where our young learners can flourish, explore their creativity, and develop essential language and literacy skills. The shared experiences have deepened the bonds among children and staff, creating a sense of belonging and unity within our nursery community. 

As we reflect on this joyful week, we are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and participation shown by everyone involved. The magic of nursery rhymes has brought immense joy to our nursery, and the echoes of laughter and song continue to resonate in our hearts. We are committed to building on these enriching experiences and look forward to many more celebrations that inspire and cultivate the limitless potential of our young learners. 

Join us in celebrating the timeless joy of nursery rhymes and the wonderful world of early childhood education at Hiba Academy Hangzhou (Nursery)! Together, we create beautiful memories and lay the foundation for a lifetime love of learning and discovery.