The nursery rhyme “This Old Man” is a fun and musical song that children really enjoy singing.
It has rhythm, repetition, and numbers in it. It usually starts like this:
“This old man, he played one,
He played knick-knack on my drum,
With a knick-knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.”
The rhyme continues by counting from one up to ten, and sometimes more.
In each part, the old man plays “knick-knack” on a different object or body part.
So, this rhyme is not just for fun. It teaches kids about numbers, rhythm, music, and memory.
Who is the “Old Man”?
The “old man” in the rhyme is a friendly and happy character.
He plays little games or beats (“knick-knacks”) to make music.
He could be seen as a symbol of grandpas or elders who spend time with kids in fun ways.
Imagine your grandpa tapping his stick on the ground and singing with you. That’s just like the “old man” in the rhyme.
What Does “Knick-Knack” Mean?
“Knick-knack” is a playful sound.
It represents the sound of tapping, clapping, or drumming.
In music, it feels like a beat or rhythm.
If you tap your desk gently with your fingers — tap, tap, tap — that is like a knick-knack!
Meaning of “Paddy Whack”
“Paddy whack” is another funny word in the rhyme.
It may mean a silly slap, pat, or knock.
In the rhyme, it just adds rhythm and fun.
If you clap your hands quickly while singing, that can be called a “paddy whack.”
Meaning of “Give the Dog a Bone”
This line shows kindness.
It means giving a treat to a dog, like a bone to chew.
It teaches children about sharing and caring for pets.
If you have a dog at home, you might give it a biscuit or bone as a reward.
Line “This Old Man Came Rolling Home”
The old man always returns home at the end of the verse.
It shows safety and comfort — no matter what fun he has, he comes back home.
For kids, it gives a sense of belonging and love for family.
After playing in the park, you also come back home happily.
Educational Value of the Rhyme
a) Learning Numbers
The rhyme counts from 1 to 10.
Each verse adds a new number. This helps kids practice counting in a fun way.
Verse 1 → “He played ONE”
Verse 2 → “He played TWO”
Verse 3 → “He played THREE”
b) Learning Rhyming Words
Rhymes like “drum” and “thumb”, or “sticks” and “bricks” appear.
This helps kids recognize sound patterns.
Example:
“One” rhymes with “bone”.
“Two” rhymes with “shoe”.
c) Developing Rhythm and Music Sense
The repeating sounds “knick-knack, paddy whack” create rhythm.
Children clap or tap along, building their sense of beat and timing.
Try clapping twice every time you hear “knick-knack.”
d) Enhancing Memory and Sequencing
Each verse adds something new while repeating old parts.
Kids practice remembering the order (one, two, three…).
Just like learning the days of the week in order, this rhyme helps with order learning.
e) Teaching Sharing and Caring
“Give the dog a bone” shows kindness.
It teaches children that pets and animals also need love.
Topic-wise Breakdown with Examples
Topic 1: Counting Numbers
The rhyme is mostly about numbers from 1 to 10.
Verse 1 → One
Verse 2 → Two
Verse 3 → Three
… continues till Ten
Example Activity:
Children can hold up their fingers for each number while singing.
Topic 2: Objects and Body Parts
Each number is connected to an object or body part.
One → Drum
Two → Shoe
Three → Knee
Four → Door
Five → Hive
Six → Sticks
Seven → Heaven
Eight → Gate
Nine → Spine
Ten → Hen
Example:
When the rhyme says “He played three, he played knick-knack on my knee,” children can touch their knee.
Topic 3: Actions and Movements
The rhyme encourages body actions like clapping, tapping, pointing, or marching.
Example:
“Knee” → touch your knee.
“Door” → pretend to knock.
“Sticks” → pretend to drum.
This makes the rhyme interactive.
Topic 4: Fun and Imagination
The rhyme is silly and playful.
Children imagine an old man drumming on shoes, knees, or even the door.
Example:
Imagine someone knocking on a shoe!
It is funny but helps kids giggle and learn.
Topic 5: Moral Lessons
Kindness – “Give the dog a bone.”
Respect for elders – The old man is loved and welcomed.
Joy in learning – Numbers and words can be learned with fun.
Example:
After the rhyme, a teacher can ask, “How can we be kind to animals like the old man?”
Classroom Activities for Kids
Clap and Count Game
Teacher sings, children clap the number of times.
Example: Verse 2 → clap twice.
Action Rhyme Game
Kids act out each part (tap knee, knock on door, march like “rolling home”).
Number Flashcards
Hold number cards as the rhyme is sung.
Animal Care Talk
Discuss how to care for pets, just like giving the dog a bone.
Creative Drawing
Kids draw the old man with a drum, shoe, or gate.
Why Children Love This Rhyme
It is catchy with repeated words.
It is funny (an old man playing on a shoe!)
It is musical (easy to clap and sing).
It is educational (teaches numbers, rhythm, and kindness).
Moral of the Rhyme
Learning can be joyful.
We should respect elders.
We should share with pets and others.
Numbers and rhymes can make us smile.
