Cornish Nursery Rhymes Delight Children During Speak Cornish Week

Cornish Words Added to Classic Nursery Rhymes for Kids

Nursery rhymes featuring Cornish words are bringing joy to young children at libraries across Cornwall. To celebrate Speak Cornish Week, which runs from June 22nd to June 30th, Cornwall Council has launched a new programme to help young children have fun with the Cornish language (Kernewek).

Cornish Twist on Family Favourites

Collaborating with the Council’s Cornish Language Office, Little Bird Music has infused some much-loved nursery rhymes with a Kernewek twist. Classic songs such as Old MacDonald, Row Row Row Your Boat, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star now include Cornish words and phrases. Modern songs like Zoom Zoom Zoom have also been given the Cornish treatment.

In addition, traditional tunes like Camborne Hill and Big Red Tractor have been fully translated into Cornish, allowing children to enjoy these favourites entirely in the local language.

Free Rhyme Time Sessions at Libraries

Library staff are introducing these Cornish sing-alongs during their free rhyme time sessions, which are aimed at children aged under five. Parents can find session details at their local library.

A booklet featuring all the nursery rhymes is available at Cornwall’s libraries. For those who prefer digital access, an online version and recordings of the songs can be found on the Speak Cornish website, making it easy for families to enjoy them at home.

Preserving Cornwall’s Heritage

Jowdy Davey, Cornish Language Lead at Cornwall Council, highlighted the importance of the Cornish language, saying, “Our language is such an important part of our culture and initiatives like this help to preserve Cornwall’s heritage for future generations. We want people of all ages to enjoy learning Cornish and it’s fabulous to see young children having fun with it in this way.”

Alice Browning from Little Bird Music expressed her excitement about the project, stating, “It has been brilliant to work with libraries and the Cornish language team in creating these resources to support early years rhyme time sessions around Cornwall. Singing is a great way to build connections, have fun, and enjoy learning a language together.”

For more details about rhyme time sessions, visit the Speak Cornish website.