Recently a teacher on our Facebook page commented on how she thinks Super Simple Songs would be good for her 8 year olds, and did we think that would be okay? OF COURSE!!
We use all kinds of songs with our kids up until that age–and even older.
Keep in mind, if you’ve never used a song in class, and you drop the Hokey Pokey on a class of 8 year olds, you won’t get a good reaction. Kids don’t react well to change. But if you ease them into it, you won’t regret it!
Start by playing songs in the background during quiet activities. Then move on to something not quite so song-like. Toss a ball around to the Alphabet Chant or the Months Chant. Next, move onto something that the kids are guaranteed to have a blast with, like The Pinocchio. Next thing you know, songs will be a regular part of your class.
Our focus with Super Simple Songs comes across at times as something that is best suited for kindergärtners and preschoolers. But as anyone who has tried out the CDs knows, they’re incredibly versatile and kids of all ages enjoy them.
I remember a children’s music methods course that I took in university. One of the first things we did for that class was head out to the local elementary school. It was such a different place from way back when I was in elementary school. We sang, we chanted…we made music. The kids there didn’t. There was no music on the playground and very little in the classrooms.
Don’t let that be your classroom! Expose your kids to all kinds of music. Anything will do….even some simple songs.
-Troy
Filed under: Activities
