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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to not understand the appeal of Wind the Bobbin up?

102 replies

Greengage1983 · 22/04/2026 12:33

As in the nursery rhyme. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the Wind the Bobbin up. It’s fine. I have fond memories of singing it myself as a child.

But. I have 2 young children, and we have now lived in 3 separate towns in different parts of the country, and attended dozens of different baby and toddler groups, library singalong sessions, nurseries etc. over the years, and it seems like there are loads of very old traditional nursery rhymes from my childhood (in the early 90s) that seem to have dropped off in popularity that I never hear anymore, which have been replaced by more modern songs, while Wind the Bobbin Up seems to appear at Every. Single. Session. Of Every. Single. Group. Why that song in particular? Do children even know what a bobbin is? Why not, say, Sing a Song of Sixpence, which I don’t think I’ve heard once at a group? Or ring a ring o’ roses - great fun to dance in a circle? Or oranges and lemons - exciting with the arches and the “chop off your head” bit. Or the Hokey Cokey, which was so much fun but I hardly ever hear these days? Can anyone explain what Wind the Bobbin Up has that other traditional nursery rhymes don’t? Also feel free to mention any nursery rhymes from your own childhood that you never hear anymore.

YABU - wind the bobbin up is better than other nursery rhymes and it’s perfectly understandable that it has stuck around when others have not. OR, I have not noticed this phenomenon.

YANBU - I have noticed this, and I don’t understand it either.

OP posts:
Rainbow1901 · Today 09:03

When DD was little she used to love Row, Row your boat! ....... la la la - Life is Butterceam!!! 😋😂

ChubbyPuffling · Today 09:10

Wind the bobbin up was a great song at playgroups, you got to sit on your arse for a bit hugging your little one, holding their hands to do the actions, singing nonsense. Not chasing round or having to go up and down like some of the songs. No hands free to pull your hair (or boobs) with jammy fingers. Loved -seated - circle time songs.😁

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