BOBBINS will be wound and knees and toes tapped as part of this year Rhyme Challenge at Bradford Libraries.

Bradford Council’s Libraries Service has announced the rhyme and action songs for this year’s challenge, including the Yorkshire favourite Wind The Bobbin Up.

Families will also be able to join in with the action song Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes in both English and Punjabi, along with favourite finger-plays such as Here is the Beehive and Tommy Thumb, which are all part in this annual challenge for children under five.

The Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge sees parents and children learning five rhymes together to join in the fun with the reward of a certificate for taking part. Parents and children learning rhymes together can help young children create social bonds, develop speech and language and also be a foundation for later emerging reading skills.

Over 6,000 people in Bradford including children under five and their parents took part in the challenge in 2021/22 and Bradford Libraries are hoping this number can be beaten in 2022/23.

Families can take the challenge between January and March this year at the following libraries throughout the Bradford district:

• Bingley Library at 2.15pm on Thursday 12, 19, 26 January and 2 February • Burley Library at 9.30am on Tuesday 10, 17, 24 and 31 January

• City Library at 10am on Wednesday 25 January and 1, 8, 15 February

• Eccleshill Library at 2pm on Monday 16, 23, 30 January and 6 February

• Heaton Hub Library at 11.30am on Thursday 9, 16, 23, 30 March

• Ilkley Library at 10am on Thursday 12, 19, 26 January and 2 February

• Keighley Library at 11am on Saturday 4, 11, 18, 25 February

• Laisterdyke Library on 9.30am and 10.30am on Tuesday 28 February and 7, 14, 21 March

• Manningham Library at 1.30pm on Friday 20, 27 January and 3, 10 February

• Shipley Library at 9.15am and 9.50am on Wednesday 18, 25 January and 1, 8 February

• Thornton Library at 11am on Wednesday 22 February and 1, 8, 15 March

• Wibsey Library at 10am on Monday 30 January and 6, 13, 20 February

• Wyke Library at 2pm on Tuesday 7, 14, 21, 28 March

The challenge devised by Bradford Council’s library service will also be taking place in toddler groups, pre-schools, nurseries, schools and family hubs across the district.

There is also a prize draw for families to enter with prizes such as Gruffalo Story Sacks and Nursery Rhyme Puppet Sets. Parents wanting to take part in the challenge can attend the sessions at the local library or speak to their nursery, toddler group or childcare provider.

Staff and volunteers working with the children will also be in with a chance to win one of Bradford Libraries Rhyme Challenge Awards. In 2021/22 awards were given for best practice in libraries, toddler groups, family hubs and nurseries, along with a special individual award.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “Our libraries are great places with so much to offer for people of all ages. The annual Rhyme Challenge is a great way for children under 5 to develop speech and language skills and is an excellent start for their journey to a life-long love of reading.”

For more information about libraries in the Bradford district visit www.bradford.gov.uk/libraries