The language of lullabies

Lullabies, like counting rhymes and skipping songs, seem to exist in every culture. Everywhere in the world children are rocked and sung to sleep. It is probably the first poetry we ever hear. When a child arrives at playgroup or nursery school they are probably already familiar with a number of these songs. Hand them a toy and ask them to help send it off to sleep, and see how many of them start singing.