Here in New England, the weather has plummeted to single digits and every few days, a fresh blanket of snow covers the ground. I think it’s safe to say that winter is firmly upon us! For many, the most exciting days of the year have passed and now the doldrums of winter have begun. But once the snow starts to come down, it’s always a nice change of pace to brave the cold and play in the snow!
Of course, I always incorporate winter weather songs into my music therapy sessions and music classes during these snowy months. I like to prepare my clients and students for the upcoming changes they might see during the season, and nothing is more fun than pretending to catch snowflakes on your tongue or rolling a snowball with a bunch of four-year-olds.
Some of the goals addressed in these songs:
- Increase verbalization
- Increase knowledge related to snowflakes
- Improve fine and gross motor skills
- Increase ability to follow clearly stated directions
- Increase creative expression
- Improve object identification
I don’t know any children who wouldn’t want to catch snowflakes on their tongue, and “Catchin’ Snowflakes” is a song about just that! This upbeat tune teaches little ones about snowflakes while also encouraging verbalization of the “ah” sound that comes so naturally when your mouth is wide open waiting to land a snowflake.
Once my clients and students have mastered the “ah” sound, I begin to switch up the vowel sound. This creates an additional challenge for kiddos, especially those who benefit from exploring their voices and making sounds. I also like to include simple sign language for keywords during the verses to maintain engagement throughout the entire song.
“Catchin’ Snowflakes” is an ideal song for targeting verbalization goals as well as fine motor skills and understanding of snowflakes. Talk about a fun way to explore winter themes, and the best part of this song is the many goals “Catchin’ Snowflakes” can target.
Playing with snow is an essential part of winter for any child who lives in cold climates, and “Roll A Snowball” explores that very topic! This song includes several movements using American Sign Language, all of which are demonstrated in this video:
“Roll A Snowball” has been such a hit with my clients and students, and many have been excited to share their ideas about what other creations they could make or games they could play with their snowballs. I often use this as an opportunity to explore songwriting and encourage their young imaginations while having fun and developing their motor skills.
Snowy days are always so much fun, and these two songs embody all the joyful activities children (and adults) can do in the snow, while also targeting important goals! These songs teach children about winter activities along as well as offer opportunities for improving verbalization and motor skills; they are intentionally written and ideal for any music therapy session or music class.
Tell me in the comments: which snowy songs are you using with your students and clients during this winter season?
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 this song as needed to best serve your students and/or clients.
