Ten In The Bed is a popular children’s song which is often sung as a soothing song for babies and toddlers. It is even recited by pre-schoolers to learn about numbers and counting.
The English nursery rhyme can be traced back to the 20th century as a popular kids’ rhyme all over the globe.
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The words 10 in the bed are assumed to have been referring to kids, probably siblings in a large family, who share a very crowded bed. However, in the modern context, it can be interpreted as a child on the bed with 9 toys or stuffed animals, playfully rolling them off the bed one by one and counting how many remain.
Lyrics Of The Rhyme Ten In The Bed in English
Here are the lyrics of the poem Ten In The Bed
There were ten in the bed
and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over.”
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
Nine!
There were nine in the bed
and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over.”
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
Eight!
There were eight in the bed
and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over.”
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
Seven!
There were seven in the bed
and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over.”
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
Six!
There were six in the bed
and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over.”
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
Five!
There were five in the bed
and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over.”
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
Four!
There were four in the bed
and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over.”
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
Three!
There were three in the bed
and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over.”
So they all rolled over and one fell out.
Two!
There were two in the bed
and the little one said,
“Roll over, roll over.”
So they both rolled over and one fell out.
One!
There was one in the bed
and the little one said,
“I’m lonely…[sigh].”
What Will Kids Learn From The Rhyme Ten In The Bed?
Ten In The Bed is a popular nursery rhyme that is sung to toddlers and taught to kindergartners. It is a counting song that can be instrumental in introducing the concept of numbers to toddlers. Pre-schoolers can learn to count and understand the concept of subtracting through this rhyme that emphasises on the remaining number on the bed. Children will also learn backward counting from 10-1.
As a subtle message, the song also teaches children that sharing is more fun than enjoying something alone, as it can make us feel lonely.
Theme Of The Rhyme Ten In The Bed
The rhyme Ten On The Bed talks about a child who is sharing his bed with 9 other friends (real or imaginary, is up for interpretation). The child playfully asks all others to roll over, and as the others follow his words, they roll but one of them who is on the edge of the bed falls down. And then, only 9 remain on the bed. That way, they continue rolling, until the child remains on the bed all by himself, feeling lonely.
Rhyming Scheme Of Ten In The Bed
The rhyming pattern of the song Ten On The Bed is AABC. The rhyme however maintains its poetic rhythm by repeating all the lines in every verse, with just the number changing in the first line. Set to a lovely tune, it is a cheerful tune for the little ones to sing along.
Words That Your Child Will Learn From Ten In The Bed
Sight Words:
- There
- Were
- On
- The
- And
- Said
- So
- Over
- All
- Out
Verbs:
- Roll
- Fell
Numbers: number names from 1-10.
Suggested Activities
Learning through fun is the best way to understand and memorise concepts. These activities will make it easier for your child to remember the rhyme Ten In The Bed.
1. Play It Out!
- Gather 10 friends
- Ask your child to select 9 of their favourite toys and bedtime pals and hop into bed.
- Lie down in an order based on size.
- This is a fun way to play-out the rhyme 10 in the bed.
2. Colouring fun
- In a drawing book, draw a large bed with 10 kids lying in a row.
- Ask your child to colour each of the child in a different colour.
- Ask them to write the number 1-10 on each of their t shirts in the correct order from the edge on the bed.
- This activity will enhance their understanding of the rhyme.
FAQs
1. What is the right age to teach a child this rhyme?
Pre-schoolers at the age of 2-3 years old will be excited to learn this rhyme, as they will understand the concept of numbers better. However, it is also a fun rhyme to sing to kids to keep them occupied and engaged in fun.
2. What actions and gestures go along with this rhyme?
While reciting this rhyme, you can teach kids to hold up their hand to show the number of fingers along with the words of the song. You can also teach them to roll their hands along with the words “roll over, roll over”.
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