Do you know the one thing elementary school kids want?
Fun!
Actually, they do not just want it, kids need it. Fun is what makes learning, well, fun! It gives them that extra kick to want to pick up the skills you want them to have. Like say, fluency. Diction. Vocabulary. You can build the rest of the list.
And can you guess which technique can help kids build those skills quite effortlessly? It is so subtle, kids do not even know they are actually learning while practising it!
We think you already know!
It is poems and rhymes!
These clever little couplets of lines are just the right dose of fun and learning all rolled into one. And the Wheels On The Bus poem is a great example of that!
Super popular in several countries (think the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and even a couple of non-English nations such as the Netherlands and Brazil), Wheels On The Bus just rolls off your tongue (get it? Rolls, wheels, you get the drift!).
Oh, and it can be sung! To the ever so catchy rhythm of 99 Bottles of Beer. So let us jump straight in and know the words of this poem, its history and another little bonus that will convince you poems are IT!
Also Read: Benefits Of Reading Bedtime Stories
Wheels On The Bus Lyrics
Wheels On The Bus Lyrics go something like this. Sorry, exactly like this.
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
Round and round, round and round,
The wheels on the bus go round and round,
All through the town.
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish,
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,
All through the town.
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep,
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep,
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep,
All through the town.
The babies on the bus go wah, wah, wah,
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah,
The babies on the bus go wah, wah, wah,
All through the town.
The parents on the bus go shh, shh, shh,
Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh, shh,
The parents on the bus go shh, shh, shh,
All through the town.
Also Read: 30 Short Stories with Moral Lessons
The Wheels On The Bus – History
Now let us talk history of the Wheels On The Bus. Now that we already know just how catchy this cute little rhyme is! Is it not catchy? We bet you could not help but hum along as you read along.
That is the beauty of the Wheels On The Bus nursery rhyme. It just makes you want to sing along. At the top of your lungs. Joyfully!
Anyway back to the Wheels On The Bus history, this little nugget found its rendition in the mid-20th century in the United Kingdom. And since then, this children’s song has enthralled many. Adults too!
Did you know its initial version was extremely simple and repetitive? More so than it is? So that little ones would be instantly hooked!
But as the years progressed, the Wheels On The Bus nursery rhyme went through quite a few iterations. Iterations that added more verses and more playful actions so that kids could do a little play-acting while singing along!
And now it has become so catchy, that you cannot help but find it being sung in schools. Preschool or elementary! And the credit goes to how universal this poem’s theme is.
After all, buses are everywhere. And it does not matter what your background is – culturally or linguistically or even ethnically. Children all over the world can easily sing along, play along and be engaged and entertained! In fact, we think this is one of those poems that is going to stick around for a long time to come.
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Benefits of learning the Wheels On The Bus
If you thought learning the Wheels On The Bus is just pure innocent fun, think again. It sure is pure and innocent, but there are benefits to learning this cute little rhyme for kids. Benefits like:
- It helps kids learn bus terms
- It helps kids understand sounds
- It helps kids understand sentences
- It improves their motor skills
- It helps your kids express better
Wheels. Swish. Beep. Wiper. Horns. You can see there are a ton of easy and useful terms for kids to learn here. New words that will come in handy as kids grow up. Think of it was a way to boost their vocabulary early on.
Again you know things like swish and beep which are sounds that wipers and horns make. Pretty useful knowledge at this stage of a kid’s development. Plus, you know the repetition makes it easy for them to remember.
The Wheels On The Bus is such a great way for kids to learn where sentences begin and end. Its short and snappy lines are sure to help them get a hang of basic sentence structure, which, in turn, can help kids express themselves better.
Okay we know you might be wondering how for this one. But remember how you used to play act poems with little hand and leg and feet movements when you were kids? Well, your kids are going to be doing the same in school. Moving their tiny grooving to the rhythm. And that is the cutest and the safest and the most fun way to improve their motor skills!
Like we said, sentence formation. Plus, the learning of new ideas and how to convey them correctly. Your kids brain at this time is just adding things up and learning “oh, so this is how I can say this to get my point across”. That is a pretty valuable skill if you ask us.
See how much of a learning experience a simple nursery rhyme like the Wheels On The Bus can be! You know where else your children can learn more important skills? No points for guessing, it is at EuroSchool! Our state-of-the-art school with its expert faculty can make all the difference (good ones) in your child’s crucial learning years! Visit any of our nationwide branches to know more.
Check out other Nursery Rhymes for your kids:
Finger Family
Two Little Dicky Birds
At The Zoo
Hello How are You
Baby Shark
Miss Dolly Had A Polly
First Day at School
Merry Go Round
