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By Mary Curby

I love books.  I especially love children’s books.  Picture books, wordless books, rhythmic books, fairy tales – I enjoy them all.  That is, I enjoy them except when they get stuck in my head like a song.  I’m afraid this happens to me frequently.  So, this post is inspired by the book that is currently stuck in my head.  This is the first of a series of blog posts on some wonderful children’s books of all kinds.

The first one is:

Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root, Illustrated by Jill Barton

This book is funny and has poem and song-like language.  It has such fun sounding words like razzleberry, snazzleberry fizz and whumpety, whomp!  I like how they creatively solve the problems of their car on their quest to get to the lake.  They don’t give up.  They work with what they have, even if what they have is chocolate marshmallow fudge delight!

All three of my children love this book.  TJ just got it for his 2^nd birthday.  When he got it a few weeks ago, I began to read it and all three kids found their way over to listen and peek at this fun and hilarious book.  We have a home video of me reading the Rattletrap Car to Charlie when he was 15 months.  He was giggling and enjoying himself.  We used to check that out of our library over and over.

So what about you?  Do you have any books for children you love that we should include in our post on great children’s books?

by Beth Frook

“Peek-a-boo! I see you!”  When our children are babies, this game begins within a few months of their arrival. What delight the child and adult have in this simple, giggle-producing exchange!

What do you see when you look at your child? Peek again. Are they a mover-and-shaker? Do they like to wait-and-see? Are they seeking consistent interaction, or prefer longer periods of down time? Studying a child is an integral part of loving them to maturity and helping them grow to be the gift they are in this world.   We adjust our techniques with each new child in the family because the same style (and parenting tricks) don’t always help us connect with every child in the same way.

When we aim to truly SEE who our child is, we can allow for differences in their interaction with us and with others.  One of my children is very cautious in groups of people, preferring to interact more quietly one on one.  Another has always been gregariously social, looking for the party around any corner.  Each approach has merit and each needs to be honored.  When I can see this in them, I can appreciate them for who they are and allow them the space they need to grow and be.

Motherhood is an art to be mastered.  Happy Mother’s Day to you, my mothering friends, on this journey toward mastery! Peek-a-boo, I see you!

By Mary Curby

Confession: I don’t like hearing babies or children cry.  I mean, that I really, really don’t like it.  I would say I hate it, but my daughter, Lola would remind me that we don’t say hate in our house.  I am talking about fussing, screaming, weeping, whining at any volume.  It wears on me more than nails on a chalkboard.  Of course, babies use these powerful techniques to communicate.  They say, “I’m hungry.  I’m tired.  My tummy hurts.”  I know that in my head, but because I am who I am.  It breaks my heart a little and so I don’t like crying in any form.

So, when TJ turned 9 months old.  I was thrilled because we could start teaching him what we call “Baby Signs.”  Basically, this is sign language for babies.  It is amazing!  You should definitely do it.

Here are a few reasons why.

1. It helps you connect with your baby.  Two-way communication has been happening all along, but now you can expand it with concrete daily concepts. (Less crying)
2. It cuts down on frustration.  This can cut down on frustration for child and caregiver at a time when child has few resources for dealing w/ frustration.  Signs allow your child to communicate that they are hungry or done eating and then it is easier for you to meet their need. (Less crying)
3. Children can produce with their hands concepts earlier than they can form clear words with their voice.  When you respond to what they are interested in with signs as well as words, you can build a vocabulary earlier, communicate earlier.  When the child is ready to communicate words more clearly, they already have a wealth of words at their disposal.  (Less crying)
4. Did I mention less crying?

How to Start with Sign Language and a Few Tips:

Here is one example of a video of a few signs.   You are the best teacher for your baby, I am not specifically recommending this video series, although it is quite well done.  I recommend you learn a few signs and directly teach your baby.

1. Wait until your child is 6-10 months.  You can start earlier, but they are unlikely to respond with their own signs until they are 9-12 months.  Each child is on their own timetable so be patient!
2. Choose a few signs that are concrete (eat, drink, down, all done) to start.  (I’d recommend not starting with more).  I used American Sign Language, which you can look up signs for online.
3. Consistently use the signs you’ve decided to start with.
4. Your child may do their own versions of the signs as they are learning.  Watch closely to find them and don’t change how you are doing your signs.
5. Using them in songs where you naturally enunciate words slowly and clearly is great!

I’ve done sign language with Charlie, Lola, and TJ.   Each of them progressed a little differently, but we still found it very helpful with all of them.  I remember when we started with our first child.  We expected Charlie’s signs to look just about like ours so we missed Charlie’s own version of the sign eat for about three weeks before we realized that he was signing eat!  I remember that moment when he signed eat and I could say back to him, “You are saying eat.”  Our eyes met and such a feeling of joy rushed over me.  A big smile lighted his little round face.

Each of our children took to it a bit differently, Charlie learned a few at first and then there seemed to be a pause in words as he worked on more physical pursuits.  When he turned 1, he became really interested again so our signs branched into whatever he showed interest in (books, farm animals, bath time, and transportation).  Lola, our daughter was interested in a wider group of animals so we learned signs for zoo animals, weather, and colors.  TJ learned some signs, but he began speaking more clearly earlier so his signs transitioned into words more quickly.

So, what about you?  Have you tried sign language with your baby?

*The names of my children have been changed to protect their privacy.  More on that at the end of our previous post.

It is just before bed, at the end of one VERY long day.  TJ fixed his little brown eyes on me and said, “No teeth.”  Uh-oh.  I just got the toddler no.  TJ did not want his teeth brushed.  So, what’s a mama to do?

First, I demonstrated tooth brushing.  I had TJ’s older siblings, Charlie and Lola, also show how to brush teeth.  “TJ, See Charlie and Lola tickling their teeth?”  He looked at me with uncertainty.  He is peeked suspiciously from the hallway.  And then for the musical trick:  I began to sing, “This is how we brush our teeth (to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush).”  TJ came and sat with me as I brushed his teeth.  Then he had his turn brushing his own, as he sat on the striped bathroom rug.  I continued to use that same tune for weeks until brushing his teeth became more comfortable for him.  The use of music created a beautiful new routine that helped him stay calm and cooperate during a task that was difficult for him.

A study was done on this subject a few years ago.  The study had children perform a stressful task.  Some heard their mother’s voice as soothing, some had physical and verbal contact, and some had no contact with the mother during the task.  They found that, “Those children who had physical or vocal interaction with their mothers experienced the same amount of stress reduction as did those who received vocal comfort alone.”  If you want to read more, here is the link to the NPR posted this to their blog summary of the article.  Now are we telling you not to use physical/verbal contact?  Of course not!  But, I mentioned this article because it shows the power of your voice as one of your tools to calm your child.

So, what can we learn from this as Little Hands parents?

When those moments of trouble present themselves with our kids, what do we do?  These wrinkles in our days come in so many forms: refusal to brush teeth, fear of dogs/birds, a toddler stand-off, frustration at doing a puzzle, a massive temper tantrum, and more.

Here’s what this article is going to help me do:  I’m going to try to remember the power of my voice to provide comfort.  I will try to create new musical traditions, like singing a lullaby to a child in meltdown or make up a song about taking turns to help a rough transition.  Will you join me?

One word of warning:  Any song you use may get stuck in your head.  Also, your child may decide they love it so much they make you sing it a million times.  Remember, it is worth it to let your child that you are with them and care for them even when they are struggling.

One naming note:  To protect the privacy of my children, I have changed their names.  The older two I named after Charlie and Lola from Lauren Child’s book series.  I love these books because they are hilarious and they so adorably capture children’s thinking.

A story in the New York Times from a few years ago called, “Don’t Leave Learning to the Young,” has a paragraph toward the very end of the article talking about the power of music and the brain.  Here it is:

“Music is an especially powerful shaping force, for listening to and especially playing it engages many different areas of the brain, all of which must work in tandem: from reading musical notation and coordinating fine muscle movements in the hands, to evaluating and expressing rhythm and pitch, to associating music with memories and emotion.”

The first part of the quote above reminds me of my son when he was in the Little Hands Young Musicians program, trying to express some rhythm and pitch on the glockenspiel (with growing fine-motor skills).  And for me, I remember the challenge of coordinating my right hand’s use of the bow, while placing my left-hand fingers to form the notes as I first learned the violin.

The last sentence talks about the power of music to connect to our emotion and memories.  Regardless of any musical training, we can listen to a song from long ago and be flooded with a memory from the time.  “These are Days” by the 10000 Maniacs (Natalie Merchant) will always remind me of a 12 hour road trip to Martha’s Vineyard with my friends.  The Mendelssohn Octet will always remind me of my very favorite violin teacher as a child.  All this reminds me of the beauty of music — to listen to, learn, and express.  Are there any songs like that for you?

May this spring be a time when you experience a new the beauty of music in all its forms.  I want to listen to music and make it more — by myself and with my children.

I was the first of eight children.  So, I saw a lot of babies come home from the hospital in mom’s arms!  “Grandma Van” was always there to help, and especially to be with the displaced youngest child so mom could attend to the infant.

Grandma Van had a quiet way, a comforting presence that was at the same time, clear and confidence-building. She would take the toddler’s hands in hers and admire them with a pat.  “Look at those little hands!  Oh, what those little hands can do!”

We could see the toddler grow inches right before our eyes under her spell.  With great respect, she would hold hands to dance, to wash, to chant “Here’s a Ball for Baby…”  She also loved to sing and dance in the kitchen doing dishes or preparing food.

With fond memories of my Grandma Van’s love and respect for small children, Little Hands began some 17 years ago.  Little Hands aims to love and respect your child just like Grandma Van did.  We want to bring out the song in your child and exclaim, “Look what those Little Hands can do!”

On behalf of Little Hands,

Beth Frook

Director/Educator

Photo caption: Grandma Van with Sarah, Beth’s first child

It is a humid and sweltering 100 degree day.  One of my little ones was sick the night before so we were housebound.  The hum of joyful playing began to turn to bickering.  My children were using the word no and stop with increasing frequency.  Suddenly, I ran into the room and said, “Game time!”

I explained the rules, which I must admit I made up on the spot.  Ahem.

This game is called FREEZE.  When the music starts, the players are to run, jump, skip, roll, or hop as fast as possible.  When the music stops, freeze in whatever position you are in.  Don’t move until the music begins again.

My children giggled with delight during the game, ran blissfully throughout the house, and enjoyed some loud classical music.

Why do I like this game?

• Music exposure — I change the music each time.  Some favorites include:
  • Peer Gynt: In the Hall of the Mountain King – Composer: Grieg
  • Carmen – Composer: Bizet
  • Night on Bald Mountain – Composer: Moussorgsky

• Provides physical activity
• Teaches self-control to stop quickly.
• Teaches listening.
• After it was over, everyone was happy and ready to go back to playing

And that is “Musical Freeze”.

On behalf of the Little Hands Family,

Mary Curby

The article Pearls Before Breakfast in the Washington Post talks about a little experiment they did in 2008.   They asked Joshua Bell, a famous violinist,  to play 6 classical pieces in L’Enfant plaza metro station.  It was recorded with a hidden video camera, which you can see by clicking on the article link above.

The article notes that 1,070 of 1,097 people hurried by not responding.  But what most interests me is this quote: “Every single time a child walked past, he or she tried to stop and watch.”

Every single child!  Each child was struck by and attended to the beautiful music.

Children are open to music in a unique and beautiful way.  And that is what we are all about at Little Hands.  Building on that openness and cultivating it with a wide variety activities to help you and your child interact, learn together and enjoy the beautiful music.

Welcome to our first Music Notes post and stay tuned for our upcoming posts where we will write about children and music.

On behalf of the Little Hands family,

Mary Curby and Beth Frook