Children just love books; it is a simple fact I have come to learn over the years. Whether it’s looking at the pictures, having a chance to turn the page, or snuggling in an adult’s lap, many children are highly motivated and engaged when it’s time to read a book.
I was always hesitant to incorporate books into my music therapy sessions and music classes, but I noticed that if I arrived a few minutes early or stayed a little later, many of my clients and students would ask if I would read them a book. For young children, I truly think it is a way for them to express that they want to share an experience with you and often, they are telling you that you are important to them.
For younger children and those with special needs, visually attending or engaging in a book might be hard work or just not interesting for them. When that’s the case, my solution (of course) is to sing the words of the story!
There are so many stories that are easily singable, and many even have songs or melodies written for them. Below, I’ve featured two singable stories you can find in the Listen & Learn Music catalog.
Some of the goals addressed in these songs:
- Improve the transition to bedtime
- Improve sequencing skills
- Improve object identification
- Increase sustained attention
- Increase creative thinking
- Improve fine motor skills
There’s no better time for a lullaby than bedtime, and the same goes for books! When you combine the two, you get “I’ll See You in the Morning”, a sweet lullaby that pairs with the books of the same title (find it here) by Mike Jolley.
When utilizing “I’ll See You in the Morning”, encourage children to look at the pages and identify what they see, fill in the blanks, or recall what they heard in the story. The singable story may also help them understand the transition from day to night, which can be confusing, and even scary for young children.
It can be hard for children, and even adults, to truly understand how big the world is. There are so many different cultures, languages, and sights to see, and “Around the World We Go” serves as a great introduction to the diversity of the world we live in! This singable story pairs with the book of the same title (find it here) by Margaret Wise Brown.
“Around the World We Go” can be utilized in many of the same ways as “I’ll See You in the Morning”, but because of the repetitive nature of this particular book, it provides the ideal opportunity to include sign language for improved fine motor skills.
“Around the World We Go” can also be used as a conversation starter with children about other people around the world. For children who are older, this could even be used as an opportunity to create their own verse for the singable story, and maybe even encourage the children to create illustrations for their verse.
All singable stories can be utilized to improve sustained focus and object identification, but it is easy to see that different singable stories can be utilized to target other goals, such as understanding the differences in the world or transitioning to bedtime. There are so many possibilities with singable stories, which makes them a priceless addition to any music therapy session or music class.
Let me know in the comments below: What singable stories do you incorporate into your music therapy sessions or classes?
You can listen to all of these songs in their entirety right here. Lyrics, chords, mp3, and instrumental track for these original songs are available for download. As is the case for all Listen & Learn Music creations, we invite you to adapt these songs as needed to best serve your students and/or clients.
