Parenting Tip -It was the TWO YEAR OLDS who did me in!

Oh. My. Gosh.  Today I babysat my two 4 year old grandsons plus their 2 year old brother and sister, plus an 11 month old granddaughter. I thought I was up for the challenge.  I mean, hello-- I raised 7 children.  And I love children.  And I consider I'm somewhat a pro with children.

But today was my day to eat humble pie.  I thought I had entered the twilight zone or funniest home videos or "how to drive Grandma crazy" hidden camera before the day was done.

It was the 2 two year olds who were my undoing:
*Oatmeal dumped all over the family room carpet and chair with two children laughing and playing in it.
*Children hiding under the bed after eating all the mints they took from my purse  (while I was cleaning up the oatmeal, of course).
*Pantry shelf taken out of pantry with cocoa spilled all over the kitchen floor.
* Two potty messes all over the carpet.
* My bedroom door locked (the old fashioned lock that requires a key that is no longer in existence)
* Glass cup dropped and broken

Two year olds!!   ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!
(Note: before one of the two year olds came to my house, he had already spread poop all over his bed from a "accident" and his 4 year old brother had tried to clean up his own poop mess by taking a bath by himself and spreading poop into the bathtub!  My poor daughter-in-law)

After today, I feel like I failed being the "Best Grandma of the Year".  Instead, I became the "Grandma who couldn't cope".  Oh well.  I'm doing it again tomorrow, but I'll be better prepared!  I won't let the two year olds out of my sight!

And I'll do what I did today.  Laugh and laugh and laugh!

Thanks for reading,
Cathy

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Music Tip - A New Music Class is Starting

For those of you who live in the Mesa/Chandler/Gilbert/Tempe area, I have a new music class for preschoolers/babies that is starting this coming week.  

It is free!   We meet with some of the residents who live in a retirement apartment complex and call them the "grandmas and grandpas".  We have lots of fun as the preschoolers and "grandparents" interact with each other through music.  We dance with scarves, play instruments, do clapping games, sing with the guitar, jump in hula hoops, tell puppet stories and lots more.

The class is the 2nd and 4th Tues of each month, Jan-April from 10:00-10:45.  The Courtyard Towers, 22 N. Robson, is located in downtown Mesa by Country Club and Robson, across the street from the Youth Museum. The room is small, so I need to limit how many families can be involved each semester.  If you are interested in coming to the classes I need to have you commit to coming each month (unless sickness or other problems crop up, which they sometimes do).

If you are interested in coming this semester, please reply back quickly to reserve a spot.  Babies are welcome too!  If you have neighbors or friends or family you think would be interested, please invite them. 

Thanks for reading!

Cathy  

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Music Tip #77 Let the Children Play

I found two cool websites when looking for a movie for my husband and I to go to. I noticed that this week, June 23 (in Mesa) there is a one night premiere of a documentary entitled “Let the Children Play”. This movie features the work of Gustavo Dudamel, a conductor from Venezuela.


Dudamel works through a program called El Sistema, which teaches music to 300,000 of the poorest children in Venezuela. The effect is awe inspiring. The lives of the children become enriched and empowered and the effect on the community is just as great.

What does this mean to you? It is a reminder of the power of music on the lives of children. YOUR children. How can you use this power in your family?
1. Play music at home. Play classical, jazz, country (well…?), folk songs, choral, children’s music, the list goes on and on.
2. Enroll your children in music classes or private piano or string instruction.
3. Ensure that your child practices each day. Make it fun, play games, clap and cheer your child on
4. Enjoy music yourself. Sing around the house. Dance. Play music in the car.

Music is a gift. Make sure you use that gift for the benefit of your children. And you.

ASU Class 3rd Week

We had a special guest come visit our class on Saturday. Greg Phair brought his son, Matthew, and his trumpet to play for us. The children didn't react at first because Greg had his mute on, but as soon as he took it off, all heads turned to him (except ______, who was too interested in the balls).

Greg played an old folk song, Old Black Joe, then joined in playing some songs we danced and moved to such as the famous "Ring Around the Rosie" and "Bought Me a Cat".

It's fun to see some of the toddlers signing. Now if only I could capture them on my camera! Parents, that's your challenge, take a picture of your child signing.

ASU Class 2nd Week

Here's some pictures of our class today.

We reviewed the baby signs of "mommy", "daddy" and "more". We learned the sign for "music" and "dog". One fun idea was to make a laminated placemat containing pictures of mommy, daddy, baby and other family members. The placemat can be put on baby's high chair tray. Then while you're fixing your child's food, or while she is eating finger food you can point to the pictures or have your baby point to the pictures and say The Mommy Wiggle rhyme.

This is the mommy, sweet as can be.
This is the daddy who snuggles with me.
This is the sister, she loves to play.
This is the brother who shouts "Hoo-ray!"
This is the baby who thinks she's Queen (he's King) and
This is the song that they love to sing:
La la la la, La la la la la!

You can also make a ziplock bag book with family pictures. Paste pictures on cardstock the size of the sandwich bags, put in bags and close the sides. Then punch holes in the side of the bag, insert metal rings and you have a baby-proof book.
You can point to the pictures and make the sign for it to help your baby learn the signs for family members. Don't forget pictures of grandma and grandpa, too!

ASU Tiny Tots Class 1st Week

We had a great class this morning. The babies are SO FUN! I am attaching the lyrics for the songs and chants we did today in the first week class. During the semester I'll give you links to download some of the songs that have mp3 downloads. Unfortunately, I can't find downloads for all the songs I use. I'll experiment with having my daughter sing them and providing a download so you can learn them from home.


Mommy Go Round the Sun
Mommy (Daddy) go ‘round the sun.
Mommy (Daddy) go ‘round the moon.
Mommy (Daddy) go ‘round the rocking chair ev’ry afternoon.

Clap Your Hands
Clap, Clap, Clap your hands. Clap your hands together.
Clap, Clap, Clap your hands. Clap your hands together.
Stomp, stomp, stomp your feet. Stomp your feet together. 2X
Nod, nod, nod your head. Nod your head together. 2X
Dance, dance, dance with me. Dance with me together. 2x
Run, run run with me. Run with me together. 2X

Miss Mary Mack
Miss Mary Mack Mack Mack
All dressed in black, black, black
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons
All down her back, back, back.
She asked her mother, mother, mother
For 50 cents, cents, cents
To see the elephants, elephants, elephants
Jump over the fence, fence, fence.
They jumped so high, high, high
They reached the sky, sky, sky
And they didn't come back, back, back
'Til the 4th of July, ly, ly!

Quaker, Quaker
Quaker, Quaker how are thee?
Very well, I thank thee.
How’s thy neighbor next to thee?
I don’t know I’ll go and see.


Ti Ya Ya
Ti ya ya, ti ya ya, ti ya ya O
Ti ya ya, ti ya ya, ti ya ya O
Ti ya ya, ti ya ya, ti ya ya ti ya ya,
Ti ya ya, ti ya ya O ya O
Ya O, Ya O
Ti ya ya, ti ya ya
Ya O Ya
Ya O, Ya O
Ti ya ya, ti ya ya
Ya O Ya

FATHER
Make the sign for "Father" by placing the thumb of your right hand against your forehead. Your hand should be open,

MOTHER
Make the sign for "Mother" by placing the thumb of your right hand against your chin. Your hand should be open, in a "five shape."

THANK YOU
The sign for "thank you" is made by starting with the fingers of your dominant hand near your lips. Your hand should be a "flat hand." Move your hand forward and a bit down in the direction of the person you are thanking. Smile.

MORE
Pinch fingers and thumb together on each hand and tap closed hands together.
http://teacherweb.com/AZ/EagleridgeEnrichmentProgram/CathyShepherd/photo1.stm

ASU Class Starting soon

I'm excited about my new ASU class for toddlers and their parents. We'll be singing lots of fun new songs, playing instruments, dancing, moving, PLUS learning songs to help you teach your baby to use sign language. Baby signing is a great way to start communicating with your child if he is not talking yet, or if he is, to help augment his speech and give valuable pre-reading skills.

To register go to:
http://communityschool.asu.edu/spring/preschool/music.php

The class starts Sat Feb. 20. Come join us!

New Music Class Starting Soon

ASU offers music classes to families through the Herberger Institute Community School http://communityschool.asu.edu/spring/preschool/music.php

Registration is open now. Classes are Feb 20-May 1. The class "Sing and Sign with your Toddler" will be a fun class for parents and tiny tots. We'll experience dancing, playing instruments, moving with scarves, hoops and more. We'll learn words through American Sign Language that will help your toddler communicate more easily with you. Whether your child is talking or not this class will open a window of communication through sign and singing.

Would you like a class for an older child? Contact me or ASU and let them know!

ASU music class Harp Guest

Yesterday my friend, Debbie, came to play her harp for our class. She has just started taking harp lessons 5 months ago. The babies were enthralled by the music and there was complete attention and silence as she played.

ASU Class - Guest Cellist

Saturday we had a guest cellist come to our class to play for us. Andrea played The Swan and it was fun to watch the babies focus on her playing. Later she helped us learn the song, Tell Me Why, as she played the melody on her cello. Thanks Andrea for sharing your talent and for bringing Benjamin ( her baby).

A couple of weeks ago we had a ukulele player come and accompany us. Actually, she's a friend, Emily who is just learning to play the ukulele. If you want to play the guitar, but need to go cheaper and faster, choose the ukulele!

ASU Music class for Tiny Tots

Here's the link for the Cuppy Cake song and lyrics we did in class today. Hope you enjoy it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Z6pWhM6TA
www.cuppycake.com/cuplyric.html

If you want to play "Do Your Ears Hang Low" on your recorder, here's how it goes. Remember to cover the hole in back plus the 1st hole in front=B, 2 holes covered in front=A, 3 holes covered in front=G

Do your ears hang low? B A G G G
Do they wobble to and fro? (no recorder notes on this line)
Can you tie them in a knot? G A B B B B B
Can you tie them in a bow? G A B A A A A
Can you throw them over your shoulder B A G G G G G G G
Like a Continental soldier? (no recorder)
Do your ears hang low? G A B A G

Have fun! Bring your recorder to class next week and play with us!

ASU Music class for Tiny Tots

Yesterday was our 2nd class time. We moved locations and now have more room and AC! Yeah!
This semester we will be having guest musicians come and play their instruments for us. Today Karis's older brother, Carsten, brought his violin and played for us. It was fun to see the reaction of the babies.
We sang the song, A Ram Sam Sam, and used the parachute to keep the beat. The babies loved dancing on top of it as well as underneath it.

ASU Music class for Tiny Tots

The Tiny Tots Music class at ASU is in it's 5th week. The Moms and Dads have been having lots of fun with their babies as we chant and sing nursery rhymes and experience the joy that music brings. Did you know that nursery rhymes can prepare your baby for a successful reading career? Listening to rhyming words, alliteration, and rhythm creates connections in your baby's brain that start him on the future road to reading.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2760133
http://www.thevirtualvine.com/nurseryrhymes.html

http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2009/07/nursery-rhyme-connections.html

New preschool music classes will be starting for the Fall Semester through ASU's community school. Registration begins in Aug. To see classes offered and to register go to http://communityschool.asu.edu/classes/preschoolers.php