The rhyme goes like this:
This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed home,
This little piggy had roast beef,
This little piggy had none,
And this little piggy cried, “Wee, wee, wee, all the way home!”
This rhyme is often said while touching each toe of a child, starting from the big toe to the little toe.
Who are the “Little Piggies”?
The rhyme talks about five little piggies.
But do we really mean pigs? Not exactly!
In this rhyme, the “little piggies” are a fun way to imagine our toes.
Each toe is given a personality as if it were a little pig.
Example:
When we say, “This little piggy went to market,” we wiggle the big toe and pretend it’s a pig going shopping!
This makes learning and playing with toes enjoyable for small children.
The Purpose of the Rhyme
“This Little Piggy” is more than just fun words.
It has many learning benefits:
Counting Practice – Children learn to count five toes (1–5).
Imagination – Each toe is doing something different, which sparks creativity.
Memory Skills – Repeating the rhyme helps children remember in order.
Bonding Time – Parents and teachers use it while holding the child’s toes, making it an affectionate activity.
Language Development – Children hear new words like “market” and “roast beef,” which expand vocabulary.
Line-by-Line Explanation with Examples
Let’s break down each line to understand what’s happening.
Line 1: “This little piggy went to market”
The big toe (first piggy) is imagined as going shopping.
In old times, markets were places where people bought food and things.
So, this piggy is the “busy one,” who has work to do.
Example for kids:
Imagine your big toe carrying a tiny basket, going to buy apples or milk at the market.
Line 2: “This little piggy stayed home”
The second toe (next piggy) is lazy or prefers to stay at home.
Not everyone goes out; some stay back to rest or take care of things.
Example for kids:
If one piggy is at the market, the other piggy might be at home watching cartoons or resting in bed.
Line 3: “This little piggy had roast beef”
The third piggy is enjoying food!
“Roast beef” is a type of meal, but children can imagine it as their favorite dish.
It shows that some piggies get to eat well.
Example for kids:
Think of this piggy happily eating pizza, cake, or whatever food you love.
Line 4: “This little piggy had none”
The fourth piggy didn’t get any food.
Sometimes, not everyone gets the same thing.
It also helps children learn about sharing.
Example for kids:
Imagine your fourth toe looking sad because it didn’t get ice cream while the third piggy ate everything!
Line 5: “This little piggy cried ‘Wee, wee, wee, all the way home!'”
The fifth and smallest piggy is crying loudly.
“Wee, wee, wee” is the sound of crying or making noise.
This is the funniest part because children love giggling when they hear this.
Example for kids:
The tiny toe cries because maybe it wanted food, or it was tired, or simply because it is the smallest!
Actions and Finger Play
The best part of this rhyme is that it comes with actions.
While singing, adults hold the child’s foot.
They touch or wiggle each toe as they recite the lines.
At the end, they tickle the child while saying “Wee, wee, wee!”
This makes children laugh and wait excitedly for the tickle part.
Lessons We Learn from the Rhyme
Lesson 1: Counting
The rhyme helps count toes (1–5).
Children repeat numbers naturally.
Example: Count your own toes while saying the rhyme.
Lesson 2: Sharing and Caring
One piggy ate food, but another didn’t.
This teaches us the importance of sharing meals with everyone.
Example: If you have two chocolates and your friend has none, sharing makes both happy.
Lesson 3: Daily Life Activities
Going to market, staying home, eating, and crying are daily actions.
It shows children that life has different routines.
Example: Some days you go to school (like the piggy going to the market), and some days you stay home on holidays.
Lesson 4: Emotions
Piggies in the rhyme show emotions like happiness (eating food) or sadness (having none).
Children learn to recognize feelings.
Example: When you eat your favorite snack, you feel happy like the third piggy.
When you don’t get what you want, you feel sad like the fourth piggy.
Lesson 5: Fun with Imagination
Each toe becomes a character.
This makes children creative.
Example: You can make up your own version:
“This little piggy went to school,
This little piggy played at home,
This little piggy ate ice cream,
This little piggy had none,
This little piggy laughed ‘Ha, ha, ha’ all the way home!”
Activities Based on the Rhyme
To make learning even more fun, teachers and parents can use activities.
Coloring Activity
Draw five little pigs and ask children to color them.
Each piggy can be given a different job (shopping, eating, resting).
Role Play
Children can act as the piggies.
One child pretends to shop, another stays home, one eats, and one cries.
Counting Game
Touch each toe and count aloud together.
Practice numbers 1 to 5.
Food Sharing Activity
Give small snacks.
Some children get one, others don’t.
Then talk about how sharing makes everyone happy.
Storytelling Extension
Ask kids to imagine what happens after the piggy cries.
Maybe the others cheer it up with food or toys!
