Browsing Tag

songs

Tales & Songs {and a giveaway}

As the children and I work around our home at the moment I hear little voices singing to themselves. And I can’t help but join in…

Come gather, come gather, 
there’s work to be done
make a bundle, take an armful
together it’s fun 

Singing and music can really transform the work of the home. And we are very lucky to have been gifted a copy of Come Gather by Tales & Songs! This lovely album includes a number of sweet joyous songs as well as some wonderful stories.

My favourite is the title song Come Gather, and I think it is my daughter’s too *smile*
But I do love how my children respond to the stories! My son in particular loves to hear about Jack Frost and listens closely to Jakob & the Fire. 

You can have a little listen to Come Gather here…

How are songs and stories used in Waldorf?

Music is used in Waldorf education and Waldorf inspired homes to transition through the rhythm of the day. Songs can also bring an element of ritual or focus to an activity. In our home, we like to sing a blessing before meals, seasonal songs after lunch and to bring fun to an activity like tidying up.
 
Storytelling is also an art form embraced by Waldorf, as it captures and inspires the imagination. Children in Waldorf schools are also encouraged to develop their oral storytelling ability by setting up puppet shows. You can read more about storytelling in Waldorf schools here.

And now I’m excited to give you a chance to win a copy of Come Gather created by Annie Bryant.

Annie is a passionate storyteller, musician & mother. She loves the power of words & melodies to inspire and nourish all hearts – young and old. Annie’s seasonal recordings of handcrafted stories & songs for children combine the power of therapeutic storytelling with joyous melodies to inspire strength, confidence and gratitude for the beauty of our natural world. Annie’s second collection of tales & songs ~ Wake Up ~ inspired by Spring will be released soon.

Annie also co-presents a weekly storytelling radio program for adults, works as a copywriter & spends lots of time on the beach and in the rainforests of Northern NSW where she lives with her husband and 2 boys.

You can connect with Annie on the Tales & Songs website and Facebook page.

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For your chance to win….
…tell me how you use songs and storytelling in your home

Comments close at 8pm AEST on 20 October 2014
I will choose my favourite answer and announce the winner in this post next week.

Remember to leave a way for me to get in touch! 

And the winner is Anonymous who said…

Anyone who knows me well knows that I’d prefer to have entire conversations in song, with some interpretive dance thrown in for good measure. When we do up my son’s seat belt, I always sing “Ah arm in” in the same way that the choir sing “AhAmen” at church! I ask him questions in song and he replies in song! Singing is joy. It’s expression and it’s freeing. Like they say in Sesame Street, “Don’t worry if it’s not good enough, for anyone else to hear, just sing, sing a song,. lalalalala la lalalalala lalalalalalaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

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Good luck,

Kelly

Waldorf playgroup

My family’s weekly rhythm starts with playgroup at our Waldorf school.
The school is set on a hill amongst bushland and going there helps set the tone for our week *smile*


Our playgroup rhythm starts with the children shaping bread dough ready for baking…

We knead the bread,
We roll the bread,

We bake it in the oven.

The children then enjoy indoor free play.
Putting on gnome hats with jingly bells, setting up farm or fishing for felt fish…
After tidying up, the smell of the baked bread draws us close to enjoy morning tea…
Our playgroup leader captivates the childrens’ attention by a simple rhythmic shake of the match box, before striking a match and lighting our candle.

Blessings on the blossom
Blessings on the fruit
Blessings on the leaf and stem
Blessings on the root

Once we are refreshed we sing some songs and rhymes….

I’m Bounda, I’m Bounda, I’m Bounda the Kangaroo.
I have two floppy ears and two paws, how do you do?
Two paws, how do you do?
I have a long tail and two flat feet
And I like to play where the grass is juicy and sweet.
I’m Bounda, I’m Bounda. I’m Bounda the Kangaroo.

The fresh air then beckons us to enjoy some time outside.

There is a giant sandpit and muffin tins ready for baking lovely sand muffins *smile*

Playgroup winds down with a puppet story.
I feel blessed watching the little faces light up with anticipation and joy as the story scene is uncovered.

Goodbye now, goodbye now,
We leave you now and home we go,
Goodbye now, goodbye now,
Goodbye to all of you

Warmly, Kelly