It's Christmas Baby!

It's Christmas Baby!

Wow!  Another Christmas is rolling in.

And all the in-store decorations has me thinking about all the symbolism in the Christmas season. First the religious symbols of crosses, angels, stars, mother and baby, the animals in the barn looking over the baby in the manger, the three wise men bearing gifts.

These symbols represent the religious side of the Christmas story.

But what about the other symbols at Christmas time - Santa Claus, reindeer, elves, Christmas trees, bells?

New kids on the block come into a world that gets crazy at Christmas. From the cradle they learn that Christmas equals a glittering world of festivities and fun. And one thing about kids is they know how to get to the good stuff.

Remember your own childhood Christmases?  All the goodies, the surprises and the , the toys, the annual joy?

To children Christmas still brings a wonderful time when their dreams can come gift wrapped. When they look on in wide-eyed wonder as people burst into community singing. 

It's a time of magic and love.

And who wouldn't want to believe in that?

For more articles, info and awesome early childhood music visit www.ukulelebabymusic.com

20 Signs of a Gifted Child

“Is my child gifted?” Parents often wonder at one point or another whether their child is gifted. Here we’ve rounded up some basics to help you identify signs of giftedness in your child.

Here's a great article posted by Circle of Moms which I wanted to share.

What Does “Gifted” Mean?

The term “giftedness” is used by different schools, organizations and cultures in different ways, with some using the term strictly to indicate people with well-above average intelligence as measured by IQ scores, and others embracing a broader range of criteria. The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), offers the following definition:

Gifted individuals are those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10% or rarer) in one or more domains.  Domains include any structured area of activity with its own symbol system (e.g., mathematics, music, language) and/or set of sensorimotor skills (e.g., painting, dance, sports)

It's a whole lot more than just IQ

While IQ tests and other assessments can help identify giftedness in school-age children, kids are also commonly identified as gifted by the observations of families, teachers, and friends. Below are some of the many characteristics that gifted children often exhibit, adapted from a detailed checklist from Austega. Note: no one gifted child exhibits all the traits.

1. Has early interest in words and reading
2. Has exceptionally large vocabulary for their age
3. Learns rapidly, easily and efficiently
4. Is curious about objects or situations, asks provocative questions; enjoys exploratory activities
5. Has an unusually strong memory, but is bored with memorization and recitation
6. Is flexible in thinking patterns; makes unusual associations between remote ideas 
7. Is independent
8. Has a wide range of interests
9. Demonstrates unusual reasoning power
10. Likes structure, order and consistency
11. Show unusual degrees of originality, concentration and persistent hard work on projects that capture their interest and imagination
12. Is perceptually open to his or her environment
13. Has an advanced sense of humor
14. Is sensitive to the feelings of others
15. Shows more interest in creative effort and new activities than in routine and repetitive tasks
16. Shows an intense interest and aptitude in an artistic activity, such as drawing, singing, dancing, writing, or playing a musical instrument
17. Is intellectually playful, interested in fantasy, imagination 
18. Acts as a leader among children of their own age
19. Tries to excel in almost everything she does
20. Senses when problems exist; always trying to adapt or improve things

From this list you can see that giftedness is way more all encompassing than just IQ. Giftedness embraces the wholistic and is creative, social, relational, physical, mental, emotional and functional. 

For more articles, info and awesome early childhood music visit www.ukulelebabymusic.com

Music Tips for Children: Tip 1 - Play Singing

Zelda Sheldon and a bunch of children for music and singing play

Children LOVE to play.

Play is the work of children - that's how they learn. 

And what a superb design feature - that children are given the gift of playfulness.  Because it's through the joy of play that they learn how to put together the puzzle of how this world works.

 Singing is form of play - so it's easy to understand why singing has such a profound effect on children.  I'm not talking about the formal kind of singing where teachers and choirmasters make children sing songs together - or even worse line up in rows standing up straight like soldiers with fingers clasped across their chests - singing classical songs in classical style -  Ugh! 

No,  I'm talking about 'playful singing'. I'm talking about the kind of spontaneous child-centred play singing where a child - either on their own, or with other children, or with a caregiver burst into spontaneous singing during any kind of activity - anytime and anywhere.

Look at this awesome definition of spontaneity I found online.

Spontaneity is the quality of being able to do something just because you feel like it at the moment, of trusting your instincts, of taking yourself by surprise and snatching from the clutches of your well-organized routine, a bit of unscheduled plea.

Children are masters at spontaneity. And because spontaneity, music and play are hardwired into children it comes easy for them. 

And it also comes easy to a few playful adults. But sadly, too few adults!

One reason why adults lose that sense of spontaneous play singing could be that as children their parents never encouraged them by being the kind of playful singing role models. That spontaneous joyful play singing may have been riduculed or minimised and then ultimately shamed out of them.

I have singing students who tell me that when they were young their parents told them they should not sing because they could not sing very well. So for years these 'would be singers' went on believing they could not sing and so they should not sing. They have lost all their confidence.

And others simply don't sing because they tell themselves they can't sing and so they never let anyone hear them sing.

Another reason why adults lose their confidence singing is because opportunities to sing are far and few between. Apart from singing in a church or at kindy or school there are not many other places where one is encouraged to sing.

If you feel that you can't sing in front of others - even your children - for any reason including the above then I want to encourage you to break free and enjoy the magic of play singing.

Here are 10 quick tips for play singing.

1. Be a role model for your children. Whatever age they are - even if your unborn child is still cosy in the womb they are still listening. Sing a happy little song.
2. Use whatever is happening around you to make up a simple little song.
3. The more you practice spontaneity the better you get. 
4. Try to come up with a new song each day.
5. Try coming up with funny sounds in your song. 
6. When you are reading a story book make up a song for the book title. 
7. Make up songs for regular tasks such as having a bath, going for a walk, or making breakfast.
8. Sing in the car. Make up songs about the cars around you, or what happened in your day.
9. Don't worry if you don't think your voice is great. Make up a funny voice and just have fun.
10. Try to remember the songs you've made up already and sing them again the next day. These can then be part of your family songbook!

I'm sure there are plenty more ways you can have fun with sing play.  Feel free to send me any tips or suggestions you come up with and I'll add these to the list as well.

Have lots of fun play singing.

About the Author
Zelda Sheldon is an award winning broadcast composer, singer, music producer, educator and founder of Ukulele Baby Music - fun interactive music for 0-5yrs.  Zelda's inspirational singing and play programs encourage holistic health and wellbeing for all ages.

For more articles, info and awesome early childhood music visit www.ukulelebabymusic.com

A Time Before Kid's Music Was Big Business

Tiny Little Fingers received a CD review from Sunny Days magazine published in thr April 2011 edition.

Reviewer: Jodie McEwen

You can't help but smile as you listen to these cheery, original tracks. The ukulele's sometimes relentless cheerfulness is softened by guitar, keyboard, bass and drums.

Butterfly Kisses incorporates some quirky ambient sounds, a practice that is popular at the moment. There is a music-box quality to some of the tracks, which is slightly nostalgic, harking back to a time before kid's music was big business.

The lyrics are fairly simple and somewhat repetitive, making it most suitable for babies and toddlers, which is exactly what the musicians claim. Tracks cover themes that have long been the domain of the nursery: trains, stars and trusty old peekaboo all make an appearance on the album, though all the songs are original, and there are some simple sweet harmonies especially in Little Star. 

Ukulele Baby is an eclectic pseudo-1930s bonus track that saves the best till last.

Many thanks to Sunny Days for reviewing Tiny Little Fingers and giving it the thumbs up!


For more articles, info and awesome early childhood music visit www.ukulelebabymusic.com

Wet Weather Wonders - outdoor fun in the rain for you and the kids.

 

Wet Weather Wonders!  Awesome things to do with your children when it’s raining.

'Going outside in the rain' the idea at the heart of this activity may seem a little crazy at first but my friend Annette - a trailblazing mum in Adelaide had a point. Rain can be fun!

Making a wonderful outdoor rainy day activity the littlies will love will take a wee bit of planning ahead but there is so much fun to be had! I know you'll be wishing for a rainy day once you've got this organised.

1.     First make sure you’ve got all the wet weather clothes you need to have an outdoor rain adventure - gum boots, raincoats or rain ponchos, rain hats and umbrellas. Bring a pile of clean towels and some plastic bags or a large basket to leave at your front door to catch all the drips of all the wet gear afterwards.

2.     Next gather everything you need to make hot chocolate with marshmallows when you return home - a saucepan, cocoa, sugar, milk, cups, whisks, marshmallows etc.

3.     Now for the fun part. Ask the kids to help you make a list of items you want to FIND on your outdoor rainy day adventure. Things like trying to find a puddle, or looking out for a spiders web with jewell-like raindrops, or find a raindrop dripping down a leaf, or a snail on the move, or a bird flying in the rain, a flower with rain drops in the petals, some mud, or a number of umbrellas you could count, and stuff like this. Ask the kids come up with funny ideas of their own to add to the list.   

4.     And for even more fun with the kids make a list of things you would like to DO on your outdoor rainly day adventure. Maybe you’d like to all jump across a puddle, jump into a puddle and make a splash, make a mud pie, wash your muddy hands on the wet grass, catch a raindrop on your tongue, take a plastic cup or bowl and watch it fill up with rainwater then drink the rainwater. Have a running race in the rain. Take a skipping rope and skip in the rain. Take your camera to capture all the fun things you’ll do in the rain.

5.     Once you’ve done all the planning and made your lists the next thing to do is put on your wet weather clothes and then with your FIND and DO lists in a plastic bag (or maybe not!) set out on your outdoor rainly day adventure ticking off all the things on your lists. See how much you can accomplish.

6.     When you finally return home after your outdoor rainy day adventure you’re all set to collect the wet clothes and shoes at the door.  If you’re really cold and wet you may want to run a nice warm bath. And you could make this adventure in the afternoon so it’s timed for an early bath. Or just dry off and jump into your nice dry clothes.

7.     Then make cups of hot chocolate to enjoy as you giggle about your wonderful wet adventure or while you all watch a slide show of the photos you took.

For more articles, info and awesome early childhood music visit www.ukulelebabymusic.com

How to Take Super Cute Baby or Toddler Pictures | eHow.com

I found this great article with some cool tips on taking pics.

How to Take Super Cute Baby or Toddler Pictures | eHow.com

Does this pic count?

Here's a pic of my niece Summer and I at the local playground. Take a closer look at her little face - she's beaming with joy and you can see she's in her element - right there 'in the moment!'.

Can I add a bonus tip to this article?

Pick a great location. Playgrounds are awesome locations for getting fun pics with little ones like this one.

Why? Playgrounds are places where kids faces 'light up' automatically - they are already have big genuine smiles and their eyes sparkle with joy! No acting necessary - just snap them in action already having fun.

Also the colours of the playground are usually bright, there are lovely trees around and a big beautiful sky. Oh and natural light too.

So the local playground is the perfect environment to capure that perfect pic.

For more articles, info and awesome early childhood music visit www.ukulelebabymusic.com

I Love My Job!

Awwww.... Isn't she adorable?

And look at that little dimple in the middle of her chin. So cute!

I met this mom at a big music party in Nashville Tennessee - she was pushing a pram so I introduced myself. I wanted to give her a free Ukulele Baby Music download and as I did I took a peek inside the pram. And there she was - this lil gal all dressed up for the party too.

I just love how creative moms and dads are these days - dressing up their babies in colour coordinated fashions.

Babies are a true expression of life and creativity - like a beautiful garden with gorgeous flowers.

I love my job as a baby song producer. It makes me so happy meeting awesome parents bursting at the seams in love with their babies.

And who wouldn't be with a gorgeous lil treasure like this.