Bunny Song with Game

Especially for this season,  here is a bunny song with a fun twist:

"Little Peter Rabbit" (listen/buy the mp3 on CD Baby)
    (note: the song sample in the link above includes a chorus, which you may use for other activities)

Tune: "Battle Hymn of the Republic"

Lyrics:

Little Peter Rabbit had a fly upon his nose (3x)
And he flipped it, and he flopped it,
And it flew a-way.

Hand gestures:

Peter Rabbit: hold up the first two fingers only---indicating the rabbit ears--- while gently making hopping movements

fly: extend thumb and pinkie with other fingers down; gyrate to indicate fly motion

nose: touch your nose 

flipped and flopped: gesture with one hand, as if swiping something away from your nose; repeat with other hand

flew away: make fluttering motions with hands held close at your sides near shoulders

The fun twist:

After the children are comfortable with the singing and gestures, tell them that you'll sing the song again, but this time leave out the words Peter Rabbit while still doing the gesture for it.  There's a moment of silence which takes everyone by surprise the first time.  Even 3-4 year-olds will catch on and love the novelty of it.  Older children will catch on faster, and all primary ages enjoy it.  Then build up to omitting the words for fly, nose,  flip, flop, and fly away.  End up by doing the whole song with only the gestures shown, and no sound!

Do you have another song with similar twists?  Let me know, and I'll share it here!

Clearing and Decluttering

The image above is one that represents for me clarity, order, fresh new structure, and creative expression.  During visits to our local river banks, I love to create these "rock people". 

So many of us are committed to letting go of excess in our homes, lives, schedules, etc.  It's a pleasure to share what's working---or not.  Recently I got in on a great workshop by "Order Within" facilitated by @Barbara Browning.  We learned new ways to establish and maintain order in our homes and offices.  (For me, a home office :)

An example of letting go of my excess: several boxes of "outdated" models of my children's music albums, i.e. cassettes.  I truly didn't want these relics of a previous era from my career to be sitting around indefinitely.  I didn't want to keep shifting the boxes, storing them, moving them from one place/home to another.  But I couldn't find the solution.  I mean, these cassettes are outdated, yes, but they're still perfectly use-able.  They're still little music gems that surely must be wanted by someone out there.  Surely!  

All of these albums have been digitally remastered and re-produced in CD format, and these continue to sell well via local retail partners, the internet and various online options.  I'm so grateful for that, knowing that these song collections keep selling and finding new audiences, thanks to word-of-mouth and online sharing.

Back to those cassettes---It occurred to me to let my E-news readers know that I was giving away these cassettes to "good homes". :D  Subject line: "Remember Cassettes?"  What a great response!  Yes, many others not only remember, but DO still use cassettes and many would love to accept them!  They will use them in cars, schools, boom boxes....  Hurray!

I get to experience the happy satisfaction of finding a solution to a former "clutter problem", share in new ways with my music fans, and feel joy knowing that these "treasures" are in circulation and being appreciated anew.  Everybody wins!  

Morale:  It's worth the effort to consider alternatives and to keep seeking solutions on our path to lightening up.  And when we share from the heart, we can connect with others in new, rewarding ways.

Why is early childhood education important?

The Child Care Exchange, a site for early childhood professionals worldwide, announced that their edition in which they posted "A Day without Child Care" is their MOST POPULAR edition of the year! It has truly resonated around the globe with all who support quality child care.  

"A Day without Child Care" is a humorous take on a serious topic.  Often the advocacy messages are so serious.  This video takes a different approach.

The video answers these questions: What would happen if all the child care centers and homes were no longer available?  How much does the whole society rely on quality child care?  Why is good child care so important to a child's early development?

Spooky Songs

Happy Halloween Month!

Here's a fun, easy echo song in Spanish and English about one of my favorite things: pumpkins!

"Jack O' Lantern/Calabaza"
(author unknown?)

Tune: Frere Jaques/Are You Sleeping
Directions: have group echo/repeat each line.

Jack O' Lantern 
Very funny
Two eyes shining brightly
I am not afraid of you.

Calabaza
Muy chistosa
Dos ojos brillantes
No le tengo miedo.

Note: for the next two verses substitute the following for line 3:

One tiny nose/Una naricita

One great big mouth/Una boca grande

Mom's Singing Influence

My 86 year-old mom has been recuperating from some health issues, and while spending time together, we've been remembering some family stories.  I told her (for the umpteenth time) she should write her memoirs, and that when she's gone, who will answer all my questions about our shared history?

Brings to mind a song I used to do about "carrying on...when you're gone.." and how "we'll sing your songs..."  I haven't found that one yet, but did come across another called "We'll Carry On" by William Elliott Whitmore.

My mom sang lullabies to us and she sang passionate Latin songs while washing the dishes.  I'll always be grateful to my mom for encouraging me to sing and to share my music and for buying my first guitar for me the year we lived in Argentina.

Ukulele Classes

Do you ever get "messages from the Universe" to do something or go somewhere---maybe in a new direction for you?  I like to think of these prompts as "green arrows" giving me the go-ahead, or as inner guidance/intuition.

Lately it has been suggested to me by 4 different people at different times, to share my knowledge (basic as it is) of the ukulele.  I'm going to do it!   It seems like the perfect time: I'll be a fledgling teacher of the uke at a fledgling "school" of folk workshops for fledgling families who want to learn.

Will I like it--and will others?  Will it launch me on a new career?  Will anyone come?  Anything's possible!

"A Day without Child Care"

"A Day without Child Care", a video my production team did for the local office of education, is helping to spread the word about how important quality child care is to the whole community.  We were asked to present this serious subject in a humorous way.  Let me know what you think?


The video ends with the song "We All Sing with the Same Voice", a Sesame Street song on our children's music album, My Best Friend. :D