Rhyme Challenge 2024-25

Welcome to the 2024-25 Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge!

We hope you enjoyed singing, rhyming, talking, and reading…

The new rhyme challenge is here, and you can take part in toddler groups, school nurseries, pre-schools, and libraries!

The rhymes for 2024-25 are….drum roll….

• Little Peter Rabbit
• Bouncing Up & Down On A Big Red Tractor
• Down At The Station
• Humpty Dumpty
• London’s Burning (Spanish Version)
• London’s Burning (English Version)

You can read and download copies of the rhymes here.

You can watch some of the rhymes here.

Our library rhyme challenge dates for 2024-25 are:

• Burley Library – Tuesdays at 9.30am on 7, 14, 21 and 28 January
• Bingley Library – Thursdays at 2.15pm on 9, 16, 23 and 30 Jan
• Ilkley Library – Thursdays at 10am on 16, 23, 30 January and 6 February
• Eccleshill Library – Mondays at 2.30pm on 20, 27 January and 3, 10 February
• Shipley Library – Wednesdays at 9.15am on 22, 29 January and 5, 12 February
• Manningham Library – Fridays at 1.30pm on 24, 31 January and 7, 14 February
• City Library – Wednesdays at 10am on 29 January and 5, 12, 19 February
• Wibsey Library – Mondays at 10am on 3, 10, 17, 24 February
• Keighley Library – Saturdays at 11am on 8, 15, 22 February and 1 March
• Clayton Library – Thursdays at 10am on 13, 20, 27 February and 6 March
• Thornton Library – Wednesdays at 11am on 19, 26 February and 5, 12 March
• Menston Library – Thursdays at 10.30am on 27 February and 6, 13, 20 March
• Laisterdyke Library – Thursdays at 10.30am on 5, 13, 20 and 27 March
• Idle Library - Mondays at 9.15am on 10, 17, 24 and 31 March
• Wyke Library - Tuesdays at 2pm on 18, 25 March and 1, 8 April

No need to book just turn up!

If you are a group working with families with children 0 to 6 years and want to take the challenge in your venue, please email [email protected] to order a pack. Libraries will be undertaking the challenge during January to March 2025 but you can complete the challenge anytime between September 2024 to March 2025.

Children that complete the challenge can take their certificates to their local library and enter a prize draw to win lots of lovely early years goodies!

For those unable to attend a group setting or library you can still complete the challenge! If you have learnt the rhymes at home and are unable to attend a group, please contact us and we will forward a signed certificate.

The Rhyme Challenge is a fun way to introduce children and families to rhymes. Rhymes may be new to families or forgotten, and they require help to build up confidence to have a go themselves.

Young children learn best through seeing someone they know well doing things, and through repetition.

Rhymes can be shared almost anywhere - in the car or bus, the bath, in the supermarket. You can use rhymes during less popular activities to encourage children, for example, tidy up time, nappy changing, going to bed. Finally, rhymes are a great way to get children started on their lifelong reading journey!

The benefits of rhymes

• Rhymes are often repetitive and make the words easier to learn, especially when they are sung.
• They are a fun way for a child to acquire language skills and great building blocks for future learning.
• Most rhymes involve some physical interaction, which adds fun, surprise and anticipation.
• They give children a sense of story with a beginning, middle and end and an awareness of sounds.
• Rhymes introduce numbers, colours, shapes, animals, parts of the body etc.
• Help develop concentration and listening skills.
• They help parents to overcome feeling shy or awkward when talking to very young children.
• Help parents and carers realise how important they are as their child’s first teacher.
• Sharing rhymes help bonding and togetherness between children and parents and carers.