Songs to help things happen
One of the most powerful aspects of singing with young children is the way the effect it has on both adult and child can make things happen. My recent research on singing to babies suggests that carers use a variety of ways to engage their babies' attention, playing with sound effects, and different patterns of sound and silence. These vocal 'doodles', which sometimes also include snatches of TV tunes or the baby's name, often absorb both adult and child in a mutually satisfying communicative game. Sandra Trehub's laboratory research on mothers and babies has shown that babies look more at images of their mothers during singing than during speech that is directed towards them.
So what might this tell us?
It seems that in live singing, especially by familiar people, songs can take on different meanings for children, according to how they are used.
Songs are used for special occasions, like Eid or Christmas, but on a daily basis they might come to mean 'hello' and 'goodbye', or be a way to welcome new people to a group or help children get ready to do something, such as tidying up or going outside. Try singing the following words to the tune of the nursery rhyme, 'London Bridge': 'If you want to sing a song, sing a song, sing a song, If you want to sing a song, sit by me.'
This tune can be adapted to different activities, eg 'play outside', and children may join in during the song. If you feel worried about using your singing voice, you might feel reassured that children respond to your efforts and soon associate the tune and the rhythm with what you are offering or helping them to learn.
'Sit by me' is on the Voiceplay CD
