This post is one part of a series on how to incorporate 5 aspects of the Steiner kindergarten program into your Waldorf home. Today we will focus on the element of song and verse. For an overview of the 5 aspects, click here.
Singing with your baby or toddler can have a profound impact on language development. When my son was first learning to speak I noticed that many of his first words came out of songs or nursery rhymes which I had sung to him.
Song and verse benefit language development in a variety of ways:
- The high and low sounds make it easier for young children to replicate the words.
- The rhythmic pattern in spoken verse gives children a sense of the rhythm of a language.
- Repetition of sounds and rhyming phrases encourage children to mimic the adult’s voice.
Amazingly, these benefits only occur when children are sung to by another person; pre-recorded music or television does not have the same effect.
Parents often worry that their voice isn’t ‘good enough’ to sing to their child, but research shows that ANY singing is beneficial. Start small with simple songs and sing with JOY – that is all that matters.
In her book The Music Advantage Dr. Anita Collins encourages parents to be ‘their’ baby’s rockstar. Sing to your child and enjoy it!
Incorporating song and verse into your day can feel like just one more thing that you need to make time for. However, by using song and verse in daily activities and making it a part of your routine, you will be gifting your child these benefits without much extra effort. In fact, sometimes the addition of song and verse can actually save you time. It can help a routine to flow more smoothly and ease transition issues.
If you are unsure on where to start, here are 5 ways to include song and verse in your daily routine.
1. Morning Verse
Saying a simple verse in the morning can be a lovely way to connect and set the tone for the day. Here is one that is suitable for young children.
Good morning dear Earth,
Good morning dear Sun,
Good morning dear trees
and the flowers, every one.
Good morning dear animals
and the birds in the trees.
Good morning to you
and good morning to me.
2. Meal Time Verse
Saying a short verse or blessing before a meal can create a sense of reverence. Depending on the verse you choose it may help children to appreciate the meal in front of them or develop an awareness of where the food came from.
Blessings on the blossom,
Blessings on the fruit.
Blessings on the leaves and stem,
Blessings on the root.
3. Pack-up Song
Weirdly, my son loves packing up (a trait which I’m hoping lasts beyond toddlerhood!) but it is still helpful to sing while we work. Here’s our favourite pack-up song.
I’m a dusty, dusty gnome.
And I just can not stop.
I’m a dusty, dusty gnome.
4. Handwashing Song
This simple song is perfect for washing a toddler or young child’s hands. It is sung to the tune of ‘Here we go Round the Mulberry Bush’ and is the perfect way to become more comfortable singing with your child.
This tune is my go-to when I don’t know what to sing. By changing the words it can be used in various activities. eg: ‘This is the way we pack up the toys…’ ‘This is the way we get dressed…’ The options are endless!
5. Bedtime Verse
Coming together at the end of the day to light a candle and read a verse can help to bring a sense of closure to the day. We read this verse every night to our two-year-old. At the end we put the candle out and then it is time for bed.
This is an anonymous verse which I first read in Shea Darian’s Seven Times the Sun.
The evening is coming.
The sun sinks to rest.
The birds are all flying
straight home to their nests.
‘Caw, caw,’ says the crow
as she flies overhead.
It’s time little children
were going to bed.
Here comes the pony.
His work is all done.
Down through the meadow
he takes a good run.
Up go his heels
and down goes his head.
It’s time little children
were going to bed.
By incorporating more song and verse into your day, you will be providing your child with the opportunity to develop their language skills while creating a moment of connection.
Let me know if you have any other favourite ways to include song and verse in your day.
The Steiner Connection 