"When you connect to the heart of a child, everything is possible”
-Dr. Karyn Purvis
Connecting to the heart of a child is certainly at the heart of helping them to grow, learn, and thrive. Simple musical moments together can be a beautiful way to connect with little ones. Not only are songs enjoyable and soothing, but singing together has been found to release oxytocin, otherwise know as the “bonding hormone” or “love hormone.”
Here are a few different ways to share musical moments together:
Bring songs into both playful and quiet moments in your day. These can be in the form of action songs, fingerplay rhymes, lullabies... I love this sweet song for a quiet moment:
Sing little songs to brighten up daily routines some of which might be a struggle -- this could be during diaper changes, clean up time, a song to start or end the day... Bringing music into our daily routines can make these tasks easier and more fun, they can help teach the steps of a task , and they offer a simple way to connect throughout a busy day.
Cleaning Up Our Toys
(Tune of Farmer in the Dell)
We're cleaning up our toys
We're cleaning up our toys
Hi, ho, away we go
We're cleaning up our toys
The blocks go in the bin
The blocks go in the bin
Hi, ho, away they go
The blocks go in the bin
*change it up adding different things - the books go on the shelf, etc.
Make homemade musical instruments or get out the pots and pans and play together. Love these cute diy monster shaker eggs from Lolly Jane.
Turn up the tunes and have a dance party!
There are also SO many fun movement songs that have children exploring their imagination. This one below will get you moving and shaking while you pretend to make a delicious milkshake :
Introduce your child to some of YOUR favourite music (not all children’s music has to be “children’s music”). Your Song by Elton John and Rockabye Sweet Baby James by James Taylor have made it into my girls' bedtime playlist. :) Two songs we've been singing since they were babies.
And a personal favourite, write your own song especially for your child. This does not have to be complicated. Simply take an existing melody and change up the words to suit your child. This song can be a beautiful memory down the road. Here’s an idea to get you started:
And a reminder, you don’t have to be a singing sensation in the slightest. Little ones enjoy the voices of those they love the most — no matter how you think you sound. :)