Children’s Music and Games for Valentines Day

Valentine’s Pencils are an excellent alternative gift for this special holiday.  If your child got some, perhaps, instead of sharpening them, you might want to be creative, and make them into instruments.  Last year, my students enjoyed this challenge, and I posted a slide show of their creative works of art and music:  Homemade Instruments Made from Pencils.

I’ve posted a fun Animal Valentine video, as well as two other fun videos on my other blog:  Kids Love Animals.  Share the love and the learning.

It doesn’t take long online to find some excellent Valentine’s Game and Activities for children, but my daughter’s favorite is on The Kidzpage .  It has puzzles, and coloring pages to print, and fun online games.

SONGS FOR TEACHING is an excellent site that has the lyrics to wonderful songs for children, and it has a page full of Valentines Songs.  You can even listen to someone singing it, and if you like it, you can download it for a small fee.

Kindermusik families may remember some of their favorite songs from their Home CDs that are perfect for this day of family love.  Many of these are folk songs, so you may know them as well.  I am trying to include enough of the songs to help you remember how to sing it.

Skinnamarink a-dink-a-dink, Skinnamarink a-do, I LOVE YOU!   – Village: Dream Pillow

Love Somebody – Yes, I do… (3 times while pretending to look around for someone to love, then)… I Love Somebody and it’s YOU, YOU, YOU!

You are My Sunshine, my only sunshine.  You make me happy when skies are grey.  You’ll never know dear, how much I love you.  Please don’t take my sunshine away.

Mama loves, and Daddy Loves, and Everybody Loves a little Baby.    – Village: Dream Pillow

I love my Family, my family, my family, my family, take a look and you will see…  They’re OK with me.   on Family Time:  Our Kind of Day

Tell Me Why the stars do shine,  Tell me why the ivy twines,  Tell Me Why the skies are blue, And I will tell you just why I love you.      on Village:  Do-Si-Do

Shady Grove, my little love, Shady Grove I know, Shady Grove, my little love, bound for the Shady Grove.     on Village:  Cock-a-Doodle Moo

Cuddle Up A Little Closer Baby Mine, Cuddle up and be my little Valentine

Let Me Call You Sweet Heart, I’m in love with you.

Wiggle (4 x), Giggle (4 x)… Little Sack of Sugar, gonna eat you up   on Family Time: Our Kind of Day

Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland   - on Village: Dream Pillow

Find out more about Kindermusik at www.kindermusik.com !

Enjoy singing and playing with your family this Valentine’s Day !!!  LOVE, Ms. Debbie

Jack Hartmann – Loving to learn through music

 I am a big fan of Jack Hartmann!  He uses a variety of styles in his music, and has something for everyone.  Children find it very fun to watch this guy delve into hip-hop, rock, blues, etc., and end up having fun learning their multiplication tables, or test taking skills.  For the little ones, there are songs about taking turns and being friends. 

LOOK on his website for more information:  www.jackhartmann.com 

On the website, LISTEN & WATCH takes to you to some of his songs on little video clips.  Make sure to catch the BOP STOP!

WATCH the CHILDREN’S CONCERT section for one of his concerts to come nearby.  You have to register EARLY, as most of his shows are SOLD OUT about a month in advance.  Download his Registration Form, or call 1-888-219-2646 to purchase a ticket.  The group discount is 1 free ticket for every 20 that is purchased.  He is based out of Tampa, so most of his concerts are in Central Florida.

Check out his CD Recordings under PRODUCTS, and you will be AMAZED at the focus of each of the 22 CDs.  There are entire albums dedicated to MATH or READING, or PEACE.

MY favorite is It Starts in the Heart, which he completed in coordination with Becky Bailey!  This album is all about connections between yourself and other people!

 

So, I hope you get to connect with Jack Hartmann sometime soon, and enjoy a bit of musical learning - in such a FUN WAY!

Fall Fun at Green Meadows Farm

  

I LOVE to take my children to Green Meadows Farm in the Fall.  Of course, my children have a great time petting LOADS of animals, milking a cow, riding a horse, chasing the chickens, and taking a train ride. 

One of my favorite aspects about taking them in October, is that they have a field FULL of pumpkins.  Each child gets to pick one to take home, and I get some of my favorite Family Pictures in such a serene setting.

Green Meadows farm is located just south of Kissimmee, Florida.  Check out what all they have to offer, and more details at www.greenmeadowsfarm.com .

mama merit badges

I met up with Amy Bowers, one of my Kindermusik moms, at the Mega Monday for Moms Event at the museum today, and realized that she has developed a wonderfully creative way for mom’s to get the recognition we deserve, the mama merit badges. 

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These small merit badges depict scenes from which we mothers glean some of our most challenging moments, and rise to the occasion to deal with them the best we can. 

Check out her website:  www.mamameritbadges.com

In the “about” area, you’ll find out that these are simply offered, so that mothers can note and reward themselves for the times that parenthood has taken them beyond normal boundaries.

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The beauty is that each mom decides when they have earned each badge, and that it will be forever connected to a specific story about their children. whether you organized the most fabulous and extravagent birthday party ever, or dealt well and made it through some horrific event like poop explosions in the middle of a photography session. 

I love her comments on the FAQs page:

Why did you create these?

The simple answer is because I wanted them and they did not exist. Life as a parent has stretched me so far beyond my boundaries and comfort levels that I could literally feel my self changing and growing. After my many adventures with my brood I would actually say, “I need a merit badge for this!” (Do go on to read the rest in this area.)

AND it is simply fun to read the stories of what prompted some moms to award themselves specific badges in “merit badge tales”.  Amy is also planning to have some get togethers with local folks to share stories of how they earned their merit badges!

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This is a mom who always seems so calm, cool, and collected, and her children are very sweet and well mannered.  She’s always reading the best books on creative parenting.   This is an enlightening aspect of her personality, and helps me realize that no matter where we are in our motherhood process, that we are amazing, and can be recognized by ourselves, or by others.  I actually think it will be fun to give them as gifts.  

In addition, I would recommend that we have a Kindermusik, or even musical patch, as I know of several mothers who deserve such a patch, including Amy, who has each of her three children in their respective age appropriate classes.  Congratulations Amy, on being a great mom, and for coming up with a wonderfully creative way to recognize and celebrate our amazing mom moments.

Summer Singing

Do you remember sitting around the fire, or on long road trips, singing songs with your friends or family?  I do.  My mom was the instigator – she LOVED to sing!!!  Silly songs, sweet songs, patriotic songs,  songs to sing as a Round. 

Of course, Kindermusik offers a huge variety of songs on so many subjects.  Have fun pulling out all your Kindermusik CDs and reliving some of the fun songs, and magical moments, that were created when you were involved in a class.  If you haven’t joined a Kindermusik class, check out www.kindermusik.com to find a summer camp near you, or check out the available CDs that will get you singing, and having such fun interacting and bonding with your family!

Here’s a few other resources for you so you can remember the words to some summer classics, and play around with them in some new ways.

 

At www.blackdog4kids.com , you’ll find BlackDog’s Summer Camp Songs, and a lot more.

“Sing your way through summer.  Here are the lyrics to some of BlackDog’s favorite songs.  Print them out, grab some friends and have a cool summer song fest.” 

These songs include:  Allouette, Kookaburra, She’ll Be Comin’ Around the Mountain, Bicycle Built for Two, and LOTS more.  You’re going to LOVE this walk down memory lane. 

Blackdog also lists about 10 of the best songbooks for kids that you can buy.  Check it out!

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If you are looking for something with a bit more background music, esp. for long road trips, you just have to try “All-American CAR-I-OKE” by David Schiller.  It includes the book with the words and great fun ideas to play around with the songs, as well as a CD for entertainment and accompaniment to your singing fun.  Since the backseat folks need words too, it comes with 3 complete lyrics booklets to pass around.  I found mine at a Cracker Barrel store last year, but Amazon has new copies for just around $10, and used ones for much less.

What songs do you sing with YOUR children on a long car ride?

Accessible Music Fun at Home

Here’s a fun idea you can do without buying anything!

Try setting up a MUSICAL FUN BOX !

Children love to explore musical toys, etc. and they love the fascination of exploring new objects – or at least something they haven’t played within the last two weeks. 

Find, and possibly decorate, an appropriate container: 

• a mid-sized cardboard box will do – easy to decorate
• a clear plastic box with a lid  (being able to see inside often entices them)
• A picnic basket that you don’t use (this is one of my favorites, I filled it full of kitchen tools and small cookware that I found or got at Walmart)
• A netted holder that hangs off the back of a car sear for some fun music play in the car (I don’t recommend LOUD sounds for this set).

Fill with fun music based toys / props:

• Instruments appropriate for the child (rattles, wood blocks, shakers, etc.
• Homemade instruments, such as several childproof medicine bottles with each one filled with a different shaker material, ie.  rice, beans, paper clips, acorns, etc.
• Kitchen supplies:  small baking pans, cooking utensils – wooden & metal, small cutting board, plastic containers, etc.
• Toys that make sounds: squeakers, scrapers, etc.
• Some kind of drum – even if it’s just an empty coffee or peanut container.
• Books that make noise, or play music, or have words that you can sing
• A ball that makes a sound
• Props that would be fun to dance, or peek, with, like scarves or dishtowels
• Objects that “connect” with familiar songs, ie. bus, spider, star, moon, etc.  This way they can choose a song for you to sing, even before they can talk.
• Color pictures of the front cover of recorded music you may have, perhaps even stapled together as a book, or strung by one corner on a string.  This way they more fully see the options available, and request that you play certain music (without the ability to get to the CD or tape).  You might want to make one for home, and one for music that you keep in the car.

Guidelines for most effective use:

• Place in an obvious place, where they can easily see it and reach it.
• Keep only a few items in at a time, considering the age of the child(ren).  It is easier for children to choose an item if there are less choices, and they are more likely to fully explore an item longer.  Plus, there is less for you to pick up when they dump it out.
• Change out the objects regularly, around every two weeks.  When presented with “new” objects, children’s brains produce chemicals that help them build neural networks.  As they continue to play with them over time, it strengthens these networks, and helps make connections to other things they know. 
• This type of learning is enhanced if a significant adult or sibling partner plays with them and strives to help them expand on their own learning.  Link over to my other BLOG and find postings in the category “scaffolding”.
• Consider making a set of 3-4 containers, each with a specific set of musical items, to make it easy to trade out.  For example, a picnic basket with kitchen items, a decorated cardboard box with homemade instruments, a clear box with a variety of things to play and explore, and a basket with a variety of things that encourage them to sing.
• A fun music set in the car, or a small set in the diaper bag may help many “waiting” times become more fun learning and bonding times.

You will be amazed at how enticing this set up will be, and how much your children will learn about timbre, steady beat, correlations between ideas and objects, etc. with just a little bit of set up, and not much cost, for these easily accessible music exploration kits.

Family Time Sign Language

 With the SUMMER here now in FULL BLOOM, we spend a great deal of time with our family.  And we are learning to use sign language for family, friends and activities, in our Family Time class, esp. with the older students (up to 10 years old).

I know animated pictures would be a better way to learn , but I don’t have a good resource for that, so I will just describe what the sign would look like.  I also found a few pictures of babies signing.  It is the first word listed next to it that is pictured.  Have fun!

 

Mom         Open wide hand facing out, touch thumb to chin twice

 

Family       each hand touches first finger to thumb–

                          Movement – touch thumbs then move to touch pinky fingers

 

 

 

 

Dad           Open wide hand facing out, touch thumb to forehead twice

 

Brother    “grasp rim of ball cap” twice, then make pointer fingers parallel out front

Sister        draw thumb along cheek, then make pointer fingers parallel out front

Friends       hook pointer finders together, then flip over

I                       Hand in fist, pinky out, tap fist to chest

Love                Cross arms across chest, “hug tight”

You                  Point to person you love

I Love You       Thumb, pointer & pinky out, then wiggle hand  (shorthand)

 

Help                 One flat hand lifts other hand as fist

 

 

Put Away         flat “O” hand pointing down – move out and down

 

 

 

 

Please              Fist on chest, circle to left

 

Thank You       Touch right hand to lips and pull out, as if blowing a kiss

 

Your Welcome – Same as Thank you, just use first three fingers

 

Fun things to do with a friend…

Book                Hold flat hands together, then open like a book

 

 

Music               Glide Right open palm across inner part of Left forearm

 

 

Ball                  Outline shape of ball with both hands