Phonological Awareness: Another Word about Mother Goose

Mary Mary quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells

And pretty maids all in a row.

The reason that the use of rhymes like Mother Goose is so effective in developing phonological awareness is that children do not understand the words (Please see discussion about phonological awareness in the previous post). This isolates the language from the meaning, focusing children upon the cadence and the rhyme. It is interesting to note, however, that nursery rhymes historically had at least two purposes. One purpose was educational, for instance "one, two, buckle my shoe." Another purpose was to comment upon events of that time period. Rhymes can have sinister undertones. The rhyme above is about Mary Queen of Scots. The garden refers to graveyards. Silver bells and cockle shells are believed to be instruments of torture. Finally, pretty maids all in a row are thought to be guillotines. Some parents might find these undertones disturbing for little children (even though, little children have been chanting these verses for over 30 generations, and today's children have absolutely no idea what the rhyme is actually about). But if these references give you the shivers, there's always Dr. Seuss. Just a head's up, parents, for informed decisions.

Phonological Awareness: In support of Mother Goose

"Pussycat pussycat, where have you been?"
"I've been up to London to visit the Queen."
"Pussycat pussycat, what did you dare?"
"I frightened a little mouse under her chair"
"MEOWW!"


I haven't met a parent yet who isn't interested in helping their young child learn how to read. (And you don't have two heads and six arms, so I don't think you are any different.) So, what can you do before your little darling goes tripping off to school. Phonological awareness is the understanding that  language has a sound structure apart from meaning  Here are some components of phonological awareness: rhymes, alliteration, syllables, phonemes (individual sounds in words), and compound words. Children need to be sensitive to phonological awareness in order to lay the foundation for reading.

First, recognize that some phonological awareness activities are more difficult than others. Second, expose children to activities that support the development of phonological awareness. Rhymes, especially nonsense rhymes are a good place to start. Dr. Seuss and Mother Goose are great sources. Read rhymes at night. Play rhyming games in the car while someone else is driving. Alliteration is another way to develop sensitivity to sounds in language and a little more difficult. Alliteration is when the first sound of words are the same. For instance, Big brother Ben bought a blue ball. So take Mother Goose out of the closet, dust her off, and put her back on the bookshelf. She had it right!