Chip Chick
Goosey Goosey Gander, an old man, may have a skull fracture from getting assaulted and thrown down the stairs.
It’s Raining, it’s Pouring, an old man gets a head injury from hitting his head, possibly a concussion.
Communicating in general with small children is difficult. Conveying danger has to be discreet and elaborate to get the point across. Nursery Rhymes are short, easy to remember, and promote vivid imagery, triggering the imagination and repetitive learning skills to maintain hidden intentions.
After reading the rhymes, they seem geared towards action, followed by a consequence, which is a fundamental lesson of childhood.
But, taking a step further and describing each in detail creates more of a safety PSA than a lesson of morals and manners. Unfortunately, though, in my opinion, Goosey Goosey Gander is the exception. I mean, don’t assault or throw anyone down the stairs. It’s just not nice.
How many nursery rhymes do you know by heart? Maybe you held hands with your schoolmates singing Ring-A-Round the Roses while dancing around in a circle. Then, the song stopped, and you flopped flat on the ground like a rag doll, laughing hysterically.
Ring-a-round-roses,
A pocket full of posies,
A-tishoo! A-tishoo (or Ashes, Ashes)!
We all fall down
Well, do you know why it was written? It’s about the great outbreak of bubonic and pneumonic plagues of 1665! I guess the rhyme wouldn’t flow so lovely if the words were replaced with:
