My Bigger Littles

These are the next step up in age. They are shaking those shakers way up high. And shaking those shakers way down low. Everyone's engaged. Everyone's dancing. Everyone's singing along.

Winding Up: Teenies

Here's the last visit of this year --

to my very first on-going site.
Children's Hospital Childcare.
How many years has it been?

I think, it's been 14 years.

How is that possible? One month at a time.
I've gone every month.
Have watched the wee ones turn into big siblings.
That's a lot of growing up together.
Each visit starts with a short little hop with the teeniest.
By the end of the year, they are strumming my guitar.
Eager & excited!!

Same director.

Same assistant.

Same music lady.

Some things just never change.

Oh happy day!!

The Wee Ones

Shake Those Shakers

I love the month of May. It's the culmination of all the school year's work. The day by day progress is sometimes imperceptible. Yet here we are -- having arrived safely at the finish line of May. Each of those daily increments have stacked into weeks and accumulated into months of effort. Remind me next fall how much I love the month of May. May is a celebration. May is joyous. May is progress. In May, a whole class of two year olds can move as a unit, following directions. The trust has been established. The routines have been established. The enthusiasm and excitement are running on high. Let's hear it for the month of May!!!

Big Kids, The Big Kids

"Lucky Duckie Day" As the school year winds down, I let the children 'direct' our time together. It vaporizes all too quickly. When we wind up our 25 minutes together there's a lot of disbelief. "But we didn't do Monsters." Another voice chimes in, "What about Goldie?" Until about six or ten of our favorites are itemized and then I remind them of the good news. Our plan is for me to make one more visit. Next month. This is a good thing, that our repertoire has expanded over the months, over the years. I have literally grown up with these peeps. Or I suppose more accurately, they have grown up with me. In any case, the time is gone in the blink of any eye.

The first picture is a demonstration of the big kids ability to delay their gratification with their shakers. Yes. They can balance, too.

In the final picture of this set, there is a brand-new student, having just arrived to this country from Greece. I take it as an ENORMOUS compliment that the new child is 'up-to-form' with our theatrics, catching up with those who have grown up with me. Language is not so much a barrier when there is drama and movement involved.

Who Has More Fun??

It's April. It's time for my visit to Children's Hospital. It's time to start with my weeee-wonders. You know what that means? SHAKERS. Of course, every single visit includes a rousing version of my shaker song. I just accompany myself on the guitar with the tiniest of tots. The wobblers & toddlers get the fully-orchestrated version from my fourth CD. We go jammin' on the island with our shakers, mon.

I think shakers with babies, or even wobblers & certainly toddlers is the absolutely ultimate in science experiments. It's the definition of a "cause & effect" experience. Hmmmmm. "Nothin' happens till I start shakin' this thing." The feedback is immediate. The feedback is personal. "When I stop movin' this thing, I no longer hear it, I no longer feel the music. Wow. I can make an impact." Start and stop. Begin and end. Up and down. Back and forth. Don't get me started on the impact of my role as conductor and their following of my directions. That's a whole new post. We'll save that for the month of May.

So who has more fun? Me or the kiddies? Does it matter?

Lions on the Move

Everybody's back together. The BIG kids. It's time for a Lion Prowl. Look at all of that theatricallity. (Is that a word? LOL) Such expressions. Such drama in their movements. Today was "lucky-duck" day. I let the teacher choose a child, who then got to have the fortunate job of selecting which of my songs they wanted the group to sing. Let me tell you, that's an enormous responsibility, and a treasured opportunity.

Shake Those Shakers

Shake them up high!!

Shake them down low!!

Shake them over here!!

Shake them over there!!

Shake those shakers, EVERYWHERE!!

Ta DA!! Made it!!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeo. I made it. Drove myself into town, had six half-an-hour segments with my kiddos and still had the presence of mind to "pose" a picture at the conclusion of my first big day back-in-the-saddle. Thanks to all who helped carry my gear into and out of the building, rearranged Library Square, concocted a whole new schedule and in a gazillion other ways supported my return to the 'work' that fills my heart with joy and allows me to contribute. It does indeed take a whole village. Yeah team!!!

How Much Fun?? Lots!!

Just exactly how much fun do we have when we're together?? A seriously whole big, bunch of fun!! It was great to combine the classes. We had plenty of adults to support the groupings -- between the teachers, therapists and volunteers, there was more than sufficient encouragement for our larger group size experiment. Shake those shakers!!

Fun in the Afternoon