It's Raining, It's Pouring

It's raining, it's pouring,
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and he bumped his head,
And he couldn't get up in the morning.

This short American rhyme, in circulation since around 1912, packs a tiny, slightly comic story, an old man bumping his head and being unable to get up, into just a few rhyming lines about a rainstorm. It works well for toddlers and young preschoolers, roughly ages 1 to 4, who respond to its brevity and sound-heavy rhymes ("pouring," "snoring") long before they understand every detail of the plot. Early-childhood educators often reach for very short rhymes like this one during transitions or naptime routines, since a child can complete an entire song in under fifteen seconds, keeping their attention without demanding a long sit. The strong rhyme pairs also help children notice matching end sounds in words, a skill known to support early reading. Because it mentions rain, it doubles as a natural weather-talk starter, letting caregivers connect the song to whatever is happening outside the window that day. Its brevity makes it easy to repeat several times in a row, which many toddlers request anyway. For more on how songs like this support sleep and wind-down routines, see bedtime songs to help kids sleep.

Free printable from kidsongstv.com — more free songs, lyrics, tales and games at kidsongstv.com