Reimagining Mother Goose: How Nursery Rhymes Cultivate Cognitive and Emotional Skills in Young Children

Cabinet of Wonder (CW) was developed by artist Natalie Merchant. In collaboration with the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning, and other partners, Ms. Merchant developed a set of classroom guides and resources to help bring this project to life in early learning classrooms around the world. Inspired by her experience with Head Start, Merchant observed the powerful impact of nursery rhymes on children’s engagement and learning. Cabinet of Wonder is designed to complement existing curricula by integrating three key educational principles. This white paper details the scientific evidence supporting the developmental benefits of Cabinet of Wonder.