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Hey Everybody!
What instruments do you use in your Sprouting Melodies classes and which instruments are on your wish list?
I use hand drums (could use a lot more!), jingle bells, baby jingle bells, baby maracas, egg shakers, scarves, and a parachute. I would love to get a large gathering drum and a ukulele! I am looking forward to hearing about your instruments and wish list!
ChristineParticipantI’m definitely learning things as I go! This summer I was excited about tweaking my schedule so I could start earlier in the day and be finished earlier in the evening. It has been nice to be home at dinner time! Now I am realizing, after hours of working on the fall schedule, maybe I should have left everything the same. Do you change your work schedule in the summer or leave it alone?
ParticipantI have another moms question. I have changed the time of my SM class many times to try to accommodate sleeping and eating schedules. Obviously, you cannot please everyone all the time. However, I have a group of 4 moms who are really consistent and even host classes in their homes when necessary. I think we have been together almost a year now! They started out when their babies were in Sprouting Melodies 1 when it is totally okay and expected to nurse your baby during class. During last week’s class, they were all eating! At this point, they can eat solid foods. They were eating dried fruit I think. It was so distracting, and I got a little annoyed. Because I am not a mother, I am trying to be extra patient. My question is: Is it really true that babies/toddlers need to eat constantly or is it reasonable to ask that they eat before and/or after class? They only ate for 15 minutes or so, but during that time I felt like I was singing to myself! I feel like because SM 1 is so laid back with that kind of stuff that they just got used to it. Should I just let this go? What do you think? Thanks!
ParticipantI decided to have a Summer 1 session and a Summer 2 session. Summer 1 will be 4 weeks in June (5-26). Summer 2 will be 6 weeks. (July 24-August 28). We started singing Beth’s song, “Swimming Together” in May. I think that one should definitely be in the mix for my summer sessions! Songs about Ice Cream are always a good idea. I will have to add that one, too! I like how you used Splash with the kids. That sounds really fun!
ParticipantI had been feeling like I was getting in a rut and was using the same songs. I added an animal song (Let’s Sing a Song about a Cow), a new bonding song (Swimming Together) and Sarah jane’s Tambourine song (see her post on the Songwriting thread) this week. When I began singing one of them, a mom enthusiatically said, “Something new!” I knew then I made the right decision to change things a little! What has been going well for you lately?
ParticipantWhat are your plans for summer Sprouting Melodies? I am thinking about having a four-week class in June followed by a two-week break and then a six-week class July-August. Are you planning to have a special theme? Have you done anything like that in the past? I would love to hear your ideas!
ParticipantOne more question for today. How were reginonal conferences? Did anything stick out to you that would benefit us as Sprouting Melodies Proviers and/or business owners?
ParticipantAs a buisness owner, how do you handle taxes? Do you hire an accountant? Do you do it yourself? I have decided that paying a professional to handle my taxes is worth it! Also, what programs do you use throughout the year to keep organized? (Quickbooks, Wave, etc.?) I would love to hear what you are doing. I am still trying to figure out the best way to organize everything during the year so it is ready to go at tax time.
ParticipantHow do you handle moms who want to stay after class to chat? I am in a coffeehouse now, so the can stay as long as they want. What if you’re in a place where you don’t have a class right after but your current group needs to leave? I had one class were I had to tell the moms to leave. I asked nicely and they agreed, but I just felt bad about it. One of the things I really love about these classes is that the moms can develop great friendships with other moms! What do you do at the end of class? Do you do just ask them to leave? Do you have another system in place?
ParticipantI just checked out both of these songs. They are great!
Thanks for sharing!ParticipantDoes anyone have any animal songs they would like to share? I can only think of Old McDonald;) There’s got to be more!
Thanks and Happy Easter!ParticipantThanks for sharing, Erika! That sounds great!
I tend to get in a rut with the songs, but I try to add one or two every few weeks. I use mostly Beth and Meredith’s songs. I have yet to be brave enough to approach songwriting…I have found that the parents enjoy cuddling and singing with their little ones during “You are my Sunshine” for the cool down. I have also been using the parachute with “Pick Your Hands Up High”. They love it! One problem I have is trying to rush through the songs at times to try to keep the older kids from getting bored. Then, I find that I have too much time at the end. I am sure this was covered in the SMP training, but how do you know when it is time to move on to the next song? We talked about repetition, but sometimes I feel like the parents are bored and the kids just aren’t ready to be done! Or the younger ones are still participating, but the older kids are running around. I would love to hear what everyone else thinks! -
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