Riding on Horseback: Infant Amusement Verses

New release
Una Smilgaine

Riding on Horseback: Infant Amusement Verses

€15.75

Infant amusement verses are an important part of Latvian children’s folklore. They have existed for centuries and are still preserved orally. Adults use this genre when playing with small children. They combine short, rhythmic texts with movements that promote emotional and physical development as well as language skills. Reciting these texts may also serve to entertain or distract children. The largest collection of these verses is housed in the Archives of Latvian Folklore.

Purchase Book
  • ISBN: 978-9934-659-01-0
  • Page Count: 368
  • Language: latvian with summary in English
  • Year of Publication: 2026

Infant amusement verses are an important part of Latvian children’s folklore. They have existed for centuries and are still preserved orally. Adults use this genre when playing with small children. They combine short, rhythmic texts with movements that promote emotional and physical development as well as language skills. Reciting these texts may also serve to entertain or distract children. The largest collection of these verses is housed in the Archives of Latvian Folklore. 

Based on the content of the texts and the type of movement, Latvian infant amusement verses can be divided into four groups: 1) rhymes involving playing with fingers and hands, 2) dandling rhymes, 3) rhymes involving playing with feet, and 4) rhymes for stroking and tickling children.