Dogs That Look Like Pumpkins?

I couldn’t find where these images originally came from. An old professor sent them to me in an email and as a dog lover they were too good not to share!

What Can Your Child Learn From a Puddle?

What would it be like to walk through a puddle for the first time? To not notice it coming up and then just hear the rhythm of your walk change from a tap tap tap to splish splish splash? . . . You look down and notice you are standing in water. You see it, consider it, feel it. What an adventure of the senses!

Parents know how lucky they are to see this happen right before their eyes: their child discovering something new – something that has a sound, or a feeling, or shines, or moves. Discovery can be an incredible gift.

By letting your child walk through that puddle, millions (maybe billions) of sensory connections are made. Thought patterns, optical pathways, auditory stimulation, and your child’s perception of the world are altered and strengthened.

Embrace what a difference you make for your child by taking those walks that last a long long time but cover very little ground. Remember, every stone, pine cone, ant, bird, leaf, and puddle holds a world of discovery. Don’t miss it! Don’t worry about the puddle – the shoes will dry and the pants can be cleaned. The work of the child is to experience something new every day, and that’s one of the best ways you can help your kids learn and grow.

-This post was contributed by my friend and fellow Kindermusik educator Helen Peterson. Helen’s Southern Twin Cities program, Kindermusik of the Valley, is in the top 1% of Kindermusik programs around the world!

Don’t Play With Your Food – or Maybe You Should

For My Music Teacher Friends!

Who wants to come and play this game with me?

H-A-double L-O-W-double E-N spells “Halloween”!

From Wade Denning & Kay Lande’s Halloween Games, Songs and Stories (Golden Records, LP-242, 1969)

I put this up on the blog a couple of years ago and it has been one of the most popular posts for 2 years now!!

Pumpkins, Jack-O-Lanterns, Witches, Oh, My!

Here are some fun songs and fingerplays. Thanks to my fellow Kindermusik teacher, Merri Williams in GA.

Pumpkins on the Ground (To the Tune of: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground
(crouch down)
How’d you get so big and round?
(stretch arms out wide to sides and then make a circle)
Once you were a seed so small,
(pretend to hold a seed)
Now you are a great big ball!
(make huge circle with hands)
Pumpkin, pumpkin on the ground
(crouch down)
How’d you get so big and round?
(stretch arms out wide to sides and then make a circle)

Jack-O-Lantern
I am a pumpkin, big and round
(make huge circle with arms)
Once upon the time I grew on the ground
(point to ground)
Now I have a mouth, two eyes, and a nose.
(point to each)
What are they for, do you suppose?
(scratch head)
When I have a candle inside shining bright
(hold up right index finger)
I’ll be a Jack-O-Lantern on Halloween Night
(bragging gesture)

Halloween Witches (to the tune “Ten Little Indians”)

One Little, two little, three little witches
(fold up hand and count three)
Fly over haystacks
(fly hand up and down)
Fly over ditches
Slide down moonbeams without any hitches
(glide hand downwards)
Heigh-ho! Halloweens’ here!

One Dark and Stormy Night
Late one dark and stormy night,
(use spooky voice)
Three little witches were stirring a pot,
(pretend to stir a pot)
Two little ghosts say, How d’ye do?
(lower voice)
Go tiptoe, tiptoe, tiptoe
(say in a whisper)
Boooooooooo!
(very loud)

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Christmas fun!

If your child had been through the Young Child classes you will recognize the boom whackers. Enjoy!

Happy Elephant Appreciation Day!

Sounds like some good qualities to instill in your child. Yes, September 22nd is creeping up again. Elephant Appreciation Day! Have you hugged an elephant today? You’d better find one tomorrow!

Kindermusik Fest

Don’t forget to join us at the Powerhouse tomorrow! We are celebrating our studio’s new Maestro status. We want every child in Oxford, young and old to come and have fun at our celebration. If you been in our Kindermusik classes in the past please bring a CURRENT photo to add to our memory wall. We’ll supply the older photos. We’ll all have a wonderful reunion! Can’t wait to see you.

Home Made Play Dough

I have been thinking about doing this for a long time. Actually, my oldest son’s Mother’s Morning Out teacher gave me this recipe when he was about 18 months old. He is 9.5 years old now so you can see the idea has been kicking around in the back of my head for a little while! We had lots of fun and it got out their creative energy and eventually got them out from underfoot so that I could make the promised blueberry muffins!

1 cup Flour
1/2 cup Salt
2 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 tablespoon Oil
1 cup Water
Food Coloring (optional)

Mix up the dry ingredients in a medium sauce pan. Add the oil, water and food coloring. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly because the mixture will thicken up quickly. In 2-3 minutes you should have a big ball. Turn out onto waxed paper or a plastic plate or board and knead until smooth and cool. (This part is great for the kids!) Store in an air tight container or freezer bag.


Yes, someone got bored and took her dress off while she was waiting!