All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in a Children's Song

All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in a Children's Song

Today, I have listed 10 skills that children can learn through a children's song.  There are certainly more than 10 but I thought this was a great place to start.  I actually wrote this post for Dandelion Magazine's Blog over at GoDandelion.com and hope you will go there to read the list of skills and song ideas. 

10 Skills Learned Through Children's Songs

Thank you for reading!

Babies and Music



Babies and Music

Scientists say that hearing begins at 19-20 weeks gestation.  That means babies can hear talking, singing, and musical instruments before they are even born!  Singing songs lays groundwork for language growth, reading, speaking and self-expression.  The best advantage is the potential of music to convey feelings of love, delight and security to baby and the ability to bond the family together. For more advantages of music read The Benefits of Music.

Nursery rhymes and lullabies are used in every corner of the world to teach, calm and soothe babies.  The repetition, rhyming words and stories in these songs teach babies language skills, cultural history and beginning math.  To learn more about how to use nursery rhymes and children’s songs read Teach Your Child Using Nursery Rhymes and Children’s Songs.

Listening and creating real music helps baby figure out his place in space and time, organize his movements and gain control of his body. 

Newborns:  Sing lullabies to your newborn baby.  She will not care what you sound like but she will be soothed and comforted by your voice and the vibration you make while she lies on your chest.

Lullaby ideas:    Rock a Bye Baby

                        Hush Little Baby

                        Jesus Loves Me

                        You are My Sunshine

                        Angels Watching Over Me

                        Amazing Grace

Ready to Play:  One of the best ways to engage little ones is through songs and finger plays.  You are teaching them about their bodies and the world round them.

            Finger play ideas:   This Little Piggy

                                            1, 2, 3, 4, 5, I Caught a Fish Alive

            Peek-a-Boo – not technically a song but you do sing-song when you say “Peek-a-Boo” and that is teaching pitch and timing!

Ready to Sing:  These little ones are ready to join in the fun.  There are great songs to help teach and develop gross motor skills and body coordination.  This is also a great time to make music using big fat rhythm sticks, rattles and bells!

            Movement song ideas:  Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes –even if they can’t stand yet, you can place their hands on the correct body parts!

                                                  If You’re Happy and You Know It

                                                BINGO – substitute your child’s name and he will soon be spelling his own name!

Music comes so naturally to babies.  Lullabies can calm and soothe.  Songs and finger plays can teach and entertain.  And singing together will show love and create wonderful memories.

Title picture created using artwork by Trina Clark at www.digiscrapkits.com

Fun with Music Series - 5 Classic Musical Games

5 Classic Musical Games

Welcome to our Fun with Music Series.

I have had a great time writing this series through the month of July with Angelique Felix at angeliquefelix.com. 

We have written posts all month long to help you play with music.

Today I am going to remind you of 5 classic musical games that children love to play.

Children love to play simple games that they know the rules to and can easily play.  But they also love a little twist to spice things up a bit. 

1.  London Bridge

Children love forming a bridge and going under each others arms.  The twist:  in this version the bridge keeps getting lower at each new verse so the ones going under have to crawl and wiggle their way under the bridge.  Watch the video to see a variation to the classic London Bridge.

Trouble seeing the video?  Click here.



2.    Musical Chairs

For this game you need to set up chairs in a circle for everyone minus one.  Play some fun music as the children walk around the circle of chairs.  When you stop the music all the children need to sit down in a chair.  Since there is not enough chairs, one child will be left standing.  Now for the twist- ask the child a question.  This question can be about music theory or any subject you are studying.  If the child answers the question correctly than she can go back into the game!

3.  Freeze Dance

This game is similar to Musical Chairs since the children have to listen for the music to start and stop.  Play some great dance music and have the children dance or hop around.  Stop the music without warning.  The children have to stop dancing when the music stops.  The twist:  call out different type dances for the children such as Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Break Dance.

4.  The Farmer in the Dell

Stand in a large circle holding hands.  Begin singing the song:

The farmer in the dell,

The farmer in the dell,

Hi-ho the dairy-o,

The farmer in the dell.

Pick a child to be the farmer and she gets to stand in the middle of the circle.  Then sing:

The farmer picks a wife,

The farmer picks a wife,

Hi-ho the dairy-o,

The farmer picks a wife.

The child/farmer gets to choose someone to be the wife.  Then the wife and farmer stand together in the circle.

The rest of the verses are:

The wife picks a child.

The child picks a nurse.

The nurse picks a dog.

The dog picks a cat.

The cat picks a rat.

The rat picks the cheese.

The cheese stands alone.

Each child picked gets to pick the next child.

The twist:  Use the animals from a different story such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear.

The order of animals for Brown Bear:

Brown Bear,

Red Bird,

Yellow Duck,

Blue Horse,

Green Frog,

Purple Cat,

White Dog,

Black Sheep,

Gold Fish,

Teacher

Children

5.  Ring Around the Rosie

Hold hands and walk in a circle while singing this song.  Then everyone falls to the ground when you get to that part in the song.  Children love holding hands with their friends and being a part of the circle!

In case you don't know the words:

Ring around the rosie,

A pocket full of posies,

Ashes, Ashes,

We all fall down.

The twist:  Think of different movements to do in place of falling down.

Ideas:  Jump up

Skip around

Hop on one foot

Clap our hands

Give a hug

Benefits of playing classic musical games:

Children get to socialize with friends.

Children learn to be part of a group.

Children learn to work together and act out a story especially in The Farmer and the Dell and London Bridge.

Games are a great way to be active and get moving.

Everyone has fun!

Visit the other Fun with Music articles!

Introduction

Sing with Your Child

Classical Music and Creative Art Project

Kid-Made Instruments and the Great Outdoors.

The title picture was created using artwork by Trina Clark at www.digiscrapkits.com



Finger Play Fun Day - 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Finger Play Fun Day

Finger plays are a fun way for children to learn music, math, reading and motor skills!


This week we will be singing 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.

This finger play helps children learn to count backwards and works on finger coordination, rhythm and timing.

I had so much fun last week making the felt duck finger puppets that I made some monkey puppets this week. 

Before you watch the video you can make your own finger puppets. My dear friend, Carolyn, at Wise Owl Factory prepared a printable of monkey finger puppets that are available for downloading. So print them out and get ready for some fun!




Trouble seeing the video?  Click here.

5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

5 little monkeys jumping on the bed
1 fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed.”

4 little monkeys jumping on the bed
1 fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed.”

3 little monkeys jumping on the bed
1 fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed.”

2 little monkeys jumping on the bed
1 fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed.”

1 little monkeys jumping on the bed
1 fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
“No more monkeys jumping on the bed.”

copywrite free lyrics http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/f018.html

5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

To continue the monkey fun, we have a 5 Little Monkey printable. Each page has monkeys to cut out and glue on the picture.  The numbers count backwards from 5 to 1.

5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Need more monkey fun?  Read 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed PPtx


Be sure to check out Carolyn's monkey post on Wise Owl Factory.
She has written a review on an adorable book :  Sock Monkeys Do the Monkey, Monkey! 

Sock Monkeys Do the Monkey Monkey

I have this book available in Our Music Store.  If you buy it through us, we will get a few pennies!

Read last week's Finger Play Fun Day - 5 Little Ducks

Come back next week for another new Finger Play Fun Day video!

Finger Play Fun Day - Five Little Ducks



Welcome to Finger Play Fun Day!

Each week I will demonstrate a finger play that you can do at home or in the classroom.


Finger plays are a great teaching tool.  Children learn best while having fun and engaging with their whole bodies.


Finger plays teach math, reading skills, rhyming, social skills as well as fine motor skills!

Today's finger play is Five Little Ducks.

In the video, I use little finger puppets that I made after I saw a cute post by The Iowa Farmer's Wife.  I made several sets for my girls too!






Trouble viewing the video?  Click here.

Check back next week for a new Finger Play video!

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

Singing songs is a fun way to tell a story!

"There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly"  is a great song that is full of educational moments!

*It is full of rhyming words: 
fly/die
spider/inside her
bird/absurd
cat/that
dog/hog
goat/throat
cow/how
horse/of course

It also teaches timing and beat when the children engage and become part of the song.  They learn when it is time to chime in to sing their part.

Plus, it is just plain fun!

Trouble viewing the video?  Click here.



Did you like this video?  Subscribe to our YouTube channel StringsKeysMelodies

If you would like a study unit on a similar book, There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Trout,  Wise Owl Factory has a free PDF which includes pocket chart cards with pictures for the teacher resource, a student work page, and an answer key.

Music Classes and Special Events with Strings, Keys and Melodies

These are the classes we offer at our studio, Strings, Keys, and Melodies.  We believe children learn best while having fun and enjoying themselves. 

Lullabies
Ages Birth - 1 1/2 years

Lullabies is a parent participation class where the parents sing to and engage their baby in melodies and finger plays. We will relearn precious traditional lullabies and finger plays and learn new ones to add to our family collections. Singing songs to baby increases precious bonding, starts language and vocabulary learning and develops gross and fine motor skills.

Wiggles and Giggles
Ages 1 1/2 - 3 years

This class emphasizes fun!
Music involves singing, dancing, listening and play. Singing lyrics increases vocabulary and language skills. Dancing and games are beneficial for spatial development and gross motor skills. Listening to music develops listening and social skills. Making music with instruments develops the brain and thinking skills.
We will learn call and response songs, be introduced to different music genres, use musical instruments to work on rhythms, tones and pitches and play all kinds of musical games all while having fun!

Little Strings, Keys and Melodies
Ages 3-8 years

Music learning is fun! In these group classes children work on: singing, pitches and timing; rhythms and dancing with rhythm instruments and dancing ribbons; as well as beginning musical notation along with beginning instrument instruction. You choose which instrument your child focuses on-piano, violin, voice, ukulele or guitar!

Private Classes
All ages

Private classes are taylored for each individual student. Music is taught in an enjoyable, relaxed way with lots of games to reinforce music notation, rhythm and listening skills. Choose between piano, violin, voice, ukulele and guitar.

Special Events

Birthday Parties, Scout Meetings, One Time Music Classes will include singing, dancing, rhythm instruments, music and parachute games.

Or Customize your Event

Do you have your own idea?
Women's Night out Voice Class
Special Intro to Stringed Instruments
Intro to Classical Concert Music

We'll create a special class for your event!

Ms. Tonya
Strings, Keys and Melodies
(916) 812-2875
stringskeysandmelodies@gmail.com

Teach Your Child Using Nursery Rhymes and Children's Songs

Nursery rhymes and children’s songs are treasures waiting to be opened.  They contain huge amounts of educational wealth and can not be wasted and ignored.

Enhance vocabulary and motor skills:

Singing, chanting and rhythmic play can increase a child’s vocabulary even as motor skills are strengthened.

Examples:  Ring-Around a Rosie, The Wheels on the Bus, This Old Man, This is the Way We Wash Our Clothes,

Basic school skills:

Nursery Rhymes and other children songs teach the basics of vocabulary, reading, and math while having fun!

Examples:  I Caught a Fish Alive, Five Little Piggies, 10 Little Turtles, 1, 2 Buckle My Shoe

Language and self expression:

Singing songs lays a groundwork for language growth, reading, speaking and self expression

Examples:  If You’re Happy and You Know It, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone, Three Little Kittens

Pulse and Rhythm:

Rhymes strengthen the skill to feel the pulse of language.  It is as important to engage in the physical rhythm of rhymes and songs as it is to sing on pitch.

Examples:  Five Little Monkeys, Three Blind Mice, Hot Cross Buns, Old MacDonald’s Farm

Extra Advantage:

Music has the potential to convey feelings of love, delight and security to children and has the ability to bond families together.

Examples:  Hush Little Baby, Angels Watching Over Me, I Love You-You Love Me,

If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy Do You Hear What I Hear? , The Purpose of a Hello Songs, or Using Music to Improve Social Reading

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