ReadingRena

Hello! Is it circle time at your preschool/playschool or story time at the library ? Your "hello song" sets the tone for your story time so finding the right song for your group or for the particular day is important. It is good to have a few "hello songs" up your sleeve so that if you need to change at a moment's notice you aren't scrambling. What different kinds of hello songs might you need? You might need a song to help you learn the children's names, you might need a hello song to get the kids up and moving to work out some wiggles, you might need a hello song to get the students settled down or you might want a hello song that gets your students vocalizing. Whatever your need,  Reading Rena has a song for you!  At the beginning of the school year or if you are just starting out with a group of children you might not know all of their names super well. Hello songs that use the student's names can be a great way to repeat and get to know thos...

 Learning to control our impulses and emotions is a lifelong endeavour, but it is something that we can teach intentionally. One of my favourite songs that teaches this principle of self control is "We're Going to the Market"  Self control (the ability to start and stop in this song and others) is a learned behaviour, but if your little one is having a hard time with it that is okay because things that we learn we often have to practice! Let your child, students or participants practice lots; focus on and celebrate the successes while completely ignoring any failures. You can start working on impulse control with your baby even before they can control their own bodies with this great baby bounce: I'm including links to a couple of my other favourite songs that focus on intrinsic control, "Do as I'm Doing" and "We Clap and we Clap and we Stop!" But if you have any other suggestions for other favourite songs or rhymes that teach self co...