Music is such an exciting time, especially for little ones. Sometimes our young group members get caught up in their excitement and lose their focus on what the rest of the group is doing. This can have a spiral effect and soon the group can feel out of control. How do we handle these situations?
I have to admit, it felt really strange typing “2020” on next month’s session plan. Even though the new year is mere weeks away, it feels like 2019 just started. But I always look forward to the fresh start and clean slate that January 1 brings, and of course, it also means a fresh session plan for you!
No matter what holiday you celebrate during the month of December, a common theme throughout them all is giving! Whether that is giving gifts or giving your time to others, there are many ways that we can give.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle —shopping, parties, and many other fun things that are happening —that sometimes we forget what the holidays are all about. And in my opinion, the best way to instill the true meaning of the holidays in children is singing about it!
The songs I’ve highlighted are all about the true meaning of the holidays, and are so catchy, everyone will sing along right with you.
With the holiday season now in full swing, I recently started utilizing holiday-themed sessions with my students at a specialized school for children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.
This won’t be the first time I have used Listen & Learn material in this setting. These songs provide great opportunities for growth and learning, and have truly shown to be effective for the students there.
The parachute is one of my favorite props to use with children of every age, but especially my early childhood groups. It seems novel to them every time we get it out, and there are so many different ways we can use it to address a variety of important goals while having a lot of fun at the same time.
During the holiday season, there are two songs in particular that I pair with the parachute. I wrote them specifically for this reason, though they also work well with the stretchy band, which I use when we don’t have quite enough hands to manipulate the parachute.
Welcome! I’m Rachel Rambach, board-certified music therapist and creator of Listen & Learn Music — educational songs and musical materials for children. I love sharing my work with you, along with my behind-the-scenes creative process, adventures in business ownership, and life as a mom of two little ones.
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Session Plans
Next month’s music therapy sessions, early childhood groups, or classroom music…planned for you in advance.
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