A nice short sweet note for you for Mother’s Day.
You are sure to enjoy this loving revision of There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe (by Becky Bailey) with your child.
Look directly into your child’s eyes, use your most expressive voice with your young child as they sit on your lap, or lay in bed. Lovingly, hold their hand and enjoy this finger play.
A wonderful woman who lived in a shoe, (place your child’s hand between your two hands)
She had so many children she knew exactly what to do. (with one hand wiggle each finger individually on the child’s hand)
She held them. She rocked them, and tucked them in bed. (hold & rock the hand, bring to your chest)
“I love you, I love you” is what she said. (speak directly to the child, then snuggle)
You may even hold the hand against the heart and ask the child if they can feel the heart beat. Then have them feel their own. A child’s heartbeat is a little faster than an adult’s, can they tell the difference? If you HUM a familiar lullaby right now, the child can feel the vibration in your chest.
This quiet activity allows the child to be bathed in a full sensory experience: they HEAR these sweet words, they SEE your adoring eyes, they FEEL your sensitive touch on their hands, they hear and feel the deep underlying rhythms of the poem, and of the heart, and deep in their heart, their EMOTIONS absorb the love. In their brain, natural chemicals are released that allow the stress of the day to melt away, and different chemicals set the stage for new connections, strong connections of language, of love, and of the comfort of a safe place to be.
“Again… Again, mommy?” Say yes. Repetition makes the connections stronger. Strong enough to make them feel comfortable even in a strange place when you recite the rhyme. With enough repetition, the child may, at some point, replay the scenario in their minds, even when you are not there, to help them reach that sense of calm when they need it most.
A mother’s love extends far beyond their physical being. It extends into the heart – forever.
*** For more such rhymes and loving rituals with your child, please order the book (and maybe even the CDs) called “I Love You Rituals” by Becky Bailey. I LOVE her perspective… and I believe you will too. In this video a different familiar childhood song is adapted, and lovingly used with so many different ages and personalities.
PS. Of course, Kindermusik is FULL of these types of magical musical moments, which you learn in class, with other loving parents, and build your “musical and literary” mommy library, so you can use them in your daily routines with your family. Repetition is good for the child, but the mommy brain LOVES new material to work with.
If you live around Lakeland, Florida, request to visit a class by clicking here to
If you live elsewhere, Check out a Kindermusik program near you.
Wow! While looking around, I found an amazing website based on this rhyme. New verses, coloring pages, games, even recipies. Ha ! What fun ! When you get a chance, check out Alphabet Soup. Then you can submit your own fun ideas !
PLEASE share the song or rhyme that you use with your child to connect, calm, and thrive.