Catha For Council Blog

Having operated a successful Family Child Care in my home for over 10 years, I have had many opportunities to introduce various aspects of the Arts to young children. Being naturally musical myself, providing a musical curriculum to my kids was a simple and obvious way to enhance the daily activities of my child care and my own children as well.

Children respond to music at a very young age. Nearly everyone can remember their mother or grandmother singing nursery rhymes to them as little children. I have vivid memories of swinging outside and singing ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’ as loudly as I could just to hear the sound. With my own children I have always used music to calm and entertain them; singing softly to them in the rocker or energetically leading them in finger-plays and sing-a-longs. However you may choose to do it, singing or playing music with children gives them a beginnings of music appreciation, not to mention the special memories that are created.

My son is a wild and wholly two-year-old, and greatly affected by his environment and the sounds and sights he encounters. Getting out of control is very easy with this little boy, and it’s up to me to find ways of calming him down and quickly distracting him and hopefully changing his mood. Music affects a child’s mood, and quiet, comforting music can relax an anxious child. It’s amazing the way my son reacts to his special CDs that he knows and enjoys. Often he’ll just stop what he is doing and I’ll see him stand and look toward the stereo and just sway and sing to himself.

Children will naturally relate movement with music giving them the opportunity to explore their own creative expression. They love to act out movements to the songs such as moving around the room like different animals based on the type of sounds they hear. They can explore how their bodies move and their physical coordination begins to grow and develop as a result.

Music activities in group settings help children develop social and interactive skills by sharing the activity with the other children around them. They love to join hands and form circles while singing simple nursery rhymes and dancing around together. Friendships are made easily when children share musical activities and even the shyest child can join in and become part of the group.

Recommended Music for Young Children:

Sing Dance and Play - Genius Products

Baby’s First: Animal Songs - Various Artists)

Walt Disney Records : Children’s Favorite Songs, Vol. 1 :

Best of the IQ Builder [2001] - Bach

Children’s Songs [2001] - Genius Products

Sesame Street Platinum: All Time Favorites - Sesame Street

Baby’s First: Playtime Songs - Various Artists

Magic Mozart (Baby Genius Classical Series) - Mozart

Favorite Nursery Rhymes - Genius Products

Favorite Children’s Songs [Box] - Genius Products

Baby’s First: Nursery Rhymes - Various Artists

Toddler Favorites - Favorites Series

Night Night Classics - Ludwig van Beethoven

Sweet Dreams Lullabies [2001] - Genius Products

Introducing music to young children will provide them with a foundation to help develop language and listening skills, along with enhanced coordination and emotional development. Little children love to express themselves through music and given the opportunity, will reap the benefits of a lifetime of music appreciation.

About the Author: Sherry Frewerd is a Proud Work At Home Mother of 3 musical children. A Family Child Care Provider for 10 years, she also publishes several websites, specifically http://familyplayandlearn.com Family Play and Learn: Play and Learning Resources for Parents and Family Child Care Providers.

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Frightened by the cost of having a baby? I used to be too.
In fact I was so worried I noticed a few grey hairs.
However, seven children later, I have got bargain hunting
down to an art. The grey hairs are still there (my children
tell me) but they don’t seem to be getting any worse. My
children have everything they need (or rather that I want
them to need!) and at very little cost too. I’m going to let
you in on my secrets too.

First time Parents often want everything for their baby to
be new. This can work out quite costly. Second time round
many parents realise that the baby doesn’t know the
difference between new and nearly new and often prefer the
savings that buying secondhand can bring. However, if buying
new is a must there are still ways to find bargains.

For equipment it’s worth waiting for the sales if you can
hold out - lots of retailers sell of old stock at half
price. This is particularly true for pushchairs and prams
since manufacturers change their colour schemes each season.
Look out for end of lines where makes or styles have been
discontinued. Remember that you have the same rights in the
UK buying sale items as you do when buying full priced
items.

Brand new nursery gear can also be found on online auction
websites. Be careful to note where the item will be shipped
from as some will come from abroad and watch those postage
prices when considering your bid since hefty postage charges
can make an item more expensive than buying in a shop. Also
check with the seller if you can return unsuitable items.
You also need to be aware that any aftersales service if the
item breaks after a short time is likely to be non-existant.
Try and pay by credit card if the goods are over £100 each
as this will offer some protection.

There are plenty of websites online that also offer either
past seasons and end of line nursery equipment and clothing
but also some that just discount on current seasons stock.
Selling online usually means less overheads and so retailers
are able to pass the savings on to the customer. You will
also have far more legal protection if things go wrong
buying this way and also the chance to return any unsuitable
goods for whatever reason.

If you don’t mind buying secondhand then there are even
greater bargains to be found. As well as the above options
plenty of bargains can be found at car boot sales. Remember
to check out any equipment or toys for broken parts or sharp
edges and try and ensure the instructions are there. Also
safety recommendations may have changed since the seller
purchased the item and so it’s best to stick to items that
have been bought recently and not stored in an attic for
many years. Avoid used car seats as you can never tell if
these have been involved in an accident or dropped and it’s
also best to avoid electrical items too for safety reasons.
If you hunt around though and go often then you will find
that amongst the junk you will often find people selling
baby gear that looks as good as new.

If you choose carefully then the cost of kitting your baby
out drops dramatically. Try and work out what items you
really need by asking other mums what they found useful and
what items they bought and didn’t use much. Then armed with
your list of what you want you can set out in search of
bargains!

Jane Bishop is a mother of 7 small children and is the owner
of 2 online children’s clothing stores - Milliemoos
Children’s Online Resale which sells nearly new and new
brand name and designer children’s clothes and Amalaika
Discount Designer Clothes which sells discounted children’s
designer clothes and shoes. Visit her sites at
http://www.milliemoos.com and http://www.amalaika.com to kit your child
out in the best for less.

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