Numeral Rhymes

I found out why was I in such a bad mood a few days ago. I was getting sick. I am sick now. Running nose :(

Anyway, that's not why I'm writing the blog today.

I chatted with a friend who used to teach Kumon Math last night and he was surprised that Den learned subtraction in one short lesson and has no problem with the concept. He said most kids have problems with subtraction at the beginning.

When I think about it, maybe it got to do with all the numerate rhymes that we did since she was 1 year plus. These are some of our favorites:

A). This is our first and favorite, we learned it from playgroup and it is a finger play too:

3 little monkeys hanging on the tree
teasing Mr. alligator,
"You cannot catch me! You cannot catch me!"
Along came Mr. Alligator hungry as can be and ....."SNAP"

2 little monkeys hanging on the tree....(repeat)

1 little monkey hanging on the tree...(repeat)

(end) No more monkey hanging on the tree.

B). Another favorite, can be sung:

5 little ducks went out one day,
Over the hill and far away.
mother duck called "Quack! Quack! Quack!"
only 4 little ducks came back.

4 little ducks went out one day.....only 3 little ducks came back.

3 little ducks went out one day.....only 2 little ducks came back.

2 little ducks went out one day.....only 1 little duck came back.

1 little duck went out one day.....no little duck came back.

Mother duck went out one day,
over the hill and far away.
Mother duck called "Quack! Quack! Quack!"
5 little ducks came back.

C). This can be sung too:

5 current buns in the baker's shop
round and round with the cherries on the top.
Along came _____(a child's name) with a penny one day,
buy a current bun, and took it away.

4 current buns in the baker's shop (repeat)

3 current buns in the baker's shop (repeat)

2 current buns in the baker's shop (repeat)

1 current bun in the baker's shop (repeat)

D). This can be sung but we are not sure how, so we only said it:

3 little monkeys jumping on the bed
one fell down and bump his head
Mama called the doctor
and the doctor said, "no more little monkey jumping on the bed!"

2 little monkeys jumping on the bed (repeat)

1 little monkey jumping on the bed (repeat)

I started saying or singing all these rhymes to her again and again since she was 1 yo because we both loved them. Later on, I would ask her how many monkeys (buns, ducks) were left? She would give me the correct answer. She started singing the songs by herself when she was about 2 1/2.

Singing all these rhymes might have helped Den understand the concept of subtraction. At first, when she didn't understand what is 5-2, but when I told her "if you had 5 candies and you gave 2 to your friend then how many do you have now?" she answered correctly right away without any problem.