Nursery rhymes with numbers are some of the most useful songs you can share with a young child. They make counting feel fun and musical rather than like a task, and the repetitive structure means children naturally start to predict and join in before they even realise they’re learning.

These counting nursery rhymes are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers at home, and most of them have been delighting children for generations for very good reason.

Why Counting Rhymes Are So Valuable

Number nursery rhymes do more than just teach children to count. They build an understanding of number sequences, introduce the concept of one more and one less, develop memory and prediction skills, and give children a way to practise numbers in a context that feels genuinely enjoyable.

The repetitive, predictable structure of counting songs is particularly helpful for young children — once they know what’s coming, they feel confident enough to join in, which builds both language and number confidence at the same time.

One, Two, Three, Four, Five

One of the most beloved counting rhymes in the English language, and one of the first most children learn.

One, two, three, four, five, Once I caught a fish alive, Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, Then I let it go again. Why did you let it go? Because it bit my finger so. Which finger did it bite? This little finger on the right.

The finger actions — counting up on one hand, then the other, then holding up the little finger at the end — make this wonderfully physical and memorable.

Five Little Ducks

A counting down rhyme that introduces the concept of one less in the most gentle, story-driven way.

Five little ducks went swimming one day, Over the hill and far away, Mother duck said quack quack quack quack, But only four little ducks came back.

Continue counting down to one duck, then bring all five back at the end. Children who know this rhyme well will often hold up the right number of fingers as they go, which is a lovely early number skill.

Five Little Speckled Frogs

A firm favourite with preschoolers, this one counts down from five with actions that children love.

Five little speckled frogs, Sat on a speckled log, Eating the most delicious bugs, yum yum! One jumped into the pool, Where it was nice and cool, Then there were four speckled frogs, glub glub.

Count down through four, three, two, and one. The “yum yum” and “glub glub” are always a hit, and acting it out with fingers or small frog toys adds another layer of engagement.

Ten Green Bottles

A classic counting down song that goes all the way from ten to none — great for older preschoolers who are confident with numbers up to ten.

Ten green bottles hanging on the wall, Ten green bottles hanging on the wall, And if one green bottle should accidentally fall, There’d be nine green bottles hanging on the wall.

The repetitive structure makes this easy to join in with, and counting backwards from ten is a genuinely useful early maths skill that this song practises in the most painless way possible.

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

A rhyme that pairs numbers with simple actions and images, making each number concrete and memorable.

One, two, buckle my shoe, Three, four, knock at the door, Five, six, pick up sticks, Seven, eight, lay them straight, Nine, ten, a big fat hen.

The rhyming pairs make this very easy to remember, and acting out each action — pretending to buckle, knock, pick up sticks — makes it a physical activity as well as a counting one.

Five Little Monkeys

A perennial preschool favourite that counts down from five with a satisfying repeated refrain.

Five little monkeys jumping on the bed, One fell off and bumped his head, Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Count down through four, three, two, and one. Children who know this rhyme will shout the doctor’s line with enormous enthusiasm every single time. Use fingers to count, or act it out with soft toys for extra fun.

This Old Man

A counting up song that goes from one to ten, with a different action for each number.

This old man, he played one, He played knick-knack on my thumb, With a knick-knack paddywhack, give a dog a bone, This old man came rolling home.

Continue up through ten, with a different body part for each number — thumb, shoe, knee, door, hive, sticks, heaven, gate, spine, hen. The nonsense words and rolling action at the end make this one genuinely joyful to sing together.

Three Blind Mice

A classic that introduces the number three and has enough drama to hold a preschooler’s attention.

Three blind mice, three blind mice, See how they run, see how they run, They all ran after the farmer’s wife, Who cut off their tails with a carving knife, Did you ever see such a thing in your life, As three blind mice?

A good starting point for conversations about the number three — three mice, three tails, three blind animals running together.

Tips for Using Number Rhymes at Home

Use props where you can. Counting out real objects — five toy frogs, ten building blocks, three teddies — alongside the rhyme makes the numbers concrete rather than abstract. This is one of the most important steps in early number development.

Count backwards as well as forwards. Many parents focus on counting up but counting down — as in Five Little Ducks or Ten Green Bottles — is equally important and slightly trickier for young children. The more exposure they get, the more natural it becomes.

Pause and wait. Once your child knows a rhyme well, pause before the number word and give them a chance to fill it in. This technique builds confidence and shows you what they actually know rather than what they can repeat along with you.

Keep it playful. The moment counting rhymes start to feel like a test, the magic disappears. Keep the energy light and the focus on the fun, and the learning takes care of itself.