[Jennifer Chute]

Yes! I find sneaking quick statements in while the music is going is the best! You get really good at talking really fast then jumping back into the music 🙂 For example, I’ll say, “Let’s do that one more time since repetition is so important for learning!” I find if you talk too much you loose the children’s attention.

[Jennifer Chute]

I would first start the session with “Good Morning” and then “Hey! Hey! Come and Play!” I feel like it is a good way to really get the children’s attention and the language really supports social development. Since there are a lot of “la la’s”, I may go right into I like this song, and use different sounds the children might make as well, this would be great for language development. I would then pass out instruments and do “In my Little Hand” and then go into “I Need Music Every Day”. I would then pass out scarves and do “Who’s That” and sing peekaboo songs. Then I would get drum and sing “Will you Come?” and have them get up and march around to add movement. And then I would end the session by using the gathering drum and singing “Listen to the Sound of My Drum”. I would end it with “Music Time is over” into “Time to Go”.

[Jennifer Chute]

Encouraging, Safe, Motivating, Informative, Fun!

1) If your child becomes upset, let them stay in the room and work through it, we are all here for them!
2) It is okay if your child explores instruments by putting them in their mouth, we sanitize them afterwards.
3) Don’t worry if you are late, we are glad you are here!
4) It is okay if the first couple of times they just stand and observe, they are taking everything in and that is totally developmentally appropriate.
5) We use repetition to help your child process the song, so when they are ready they can jump right in!

[Jennifer Chute]

Caroline, I like the words you chose especially impromptu! I love to use Wiggly, Jiggly Car and the parents can use it when putting the child into his/her car seat too!

[Jennifer Chute]

Thanks for the tip Erika! Baskets and buckets do make clean up easier.

[Jennifer Chute]

I like to use “chakitas” with handles so the child cannot swallow the instrument. I also like frame drums and a gathering drum. I also love the parachute and stretchy band. Scarves are also wonderful to have for the little ones, there is so much you can do with them!

[Jennifer Chute]

I agree with what others are saying that it changes from week to week! When my new classroom assistant started he would sometimes get frustrated if it changed, but I explained to him that it changes because the energy of the children really effect what comes next and what order I do things. It can be very challenging at times, because if there is not enough going on the children will go off and start hitting the wall with maracas, friends will join in, just like they addressed in the video! But if it is too stimulating children can get overwhelmed and start crying or want to leave, get a snack, etc. It is very difficult to accommodate every single child, but I am constantly scanning the room and assessing where the energy has to go next. My favorite trick is to start finger-picking “Twinkle Little Star” and gradually slow it down using the Iso-principle. Sometimes it works better than other times, but it at the very least stops children in their tracks and helps them reset. I also use a very well known song because the parents will sing and the children can take comfort in the familiarity. Parents also often use it as a lullaby at night or nap time so it hopefully will trigger relaxation that way as well.

[Jennifer Chute]

Hi Maura! I most definitely agree that stimulation is a spectrum and you need to make judgement calls in the moment!

[Jennifer Chute]

Thank you Stephanie for sharing stories about when your children were little! I’m sure the baby loved their time with Daddy! 🙂

[Jennifer Chute]

I run a young baby group in early intervention. I’ve found that it is just as important for the caregivers as it is for the babies. They really enjoy coming every week and love having a safe space where they can share their concerns and small victories of their little ones. With this age group, it is very important to be very animated to really grab their attention. It is also good to have scarves to give them visuals to look at and go with the music. This age is so difficult for parents I really like to give them a chance to talk about how they are feeling and be open and honest about how they are feeling.

[Jennifer Chute]

The beginning of the session everyone gets settled, bringing in whatever they have to bring for the baby. Therapist checks in with parents, especially if they seem frazzled, making sure they know they are welcome and it is a safe space. Therapist starts off by singing Good Morning, with caregivers and babies in a circle. Then scarves are passed out, and Therapist leads “Where Oh Where Oh Where is my face”, this also can be adapted to “where is (child’s name), which can be an extension of Hello song and a way for parents to learn all the children’s names. Then when scarves are put away, Therapist leads “Just like Me”, with parent either cradling baby or having baby sitting facing them/laying on their back in front of them. This is a nice bonding experience, but also a chance to work on being aware of body parts and giving the babies actions to track. Then Therapist will lead Row Your Boat and have children face parent and do back and forth rocking, either on parents knees or sitting. Then therapist will lead “Seatbelt Song” and talk about how the song can be used to get ready for a car ride, or to soothe them if they do not like getting into their car seat. Therapist will then pass out shakers with handles for the babies to grasp. Therapist will lead “Happy and you know it Shake your Shaker”, to start with a familiar song. Then therapist will go into “In My Little Hand” to give children more opportunities to shake their shaker. Therapist will then lead “Music is The Way” to really give the parents an opportunity to bond with their baby and tell them they love them. After that song, and any ending comments parents would like to make, Therapist will go into the Goodbye song and end the group.

[Jennifer Chute]

5 Sentences are:

I am so glad you are here!
It is okay if your baby sleeps, stay and learn the songs so you can sing them with your baby.
Don’t worry about what your voice sounds like, the most important part is that it is you!
If your baby doesn’t want to sit, feel free to let them stand.
That is wonderful how your face is close to your baby, that is where they can see you.

[Jennifer Chute]

Hi Marcie! I am so glad that you addressed how it is important that the baby hears the parents timbre of their voice. So often parents are self conscious about how they sing and don’t realize it is more important that it is them!

[Jennifer Chute]

5 words are: Calm, Safe, Inviting, Serene, and Loving

[Jennifer Chute]

Music therapy in a community based setting can really bring people together. Often moms of very young children feel isolated and overwhelmed. A community music therapy group provides support for new parents and helps them realize that there are a lot of people going through the same things they are. In modern society it is too easy to get into a routine of going to work, picking children up from daycare, putting them to bed, etc. and not really being an active member in their community. Technology is a wonderful way to keep in touch with people, but sometimes I feel as though people become too reliant on it and don’t seek out face to face contact with other people as much. A community music group really inspires parents to get out of the house, sit on the floor with their children and really spend quality time with them. One of my favorite things to see in music group is when parents start interacting with other children. I’ve also had parents say they spend time outside of music group together and really build a friendship, this is very important for families to build connections with others.

[Author]

Posts