The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-01-10
kindergarten
Helps for Parents
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Articles Issued By syse Dep0r snscnf
Ut slse Interior. Bureau OF Eutscasioss
and the
NonionaI KhsdergsSsenxAssociafio
MUSIC is A NECESSITY
BY MRS. HARRIET AYERS sEY.
vi MCUR ;,

MCUR. :
/ know mother with four children
who made up her mind that home
should be a very heaven. To hee.
music was Gods special gift TO moth
crs and children, and so she begaH
singing regularly With each Of hex
babies.
There are many lovely Songs which
mother can learn. and the best of
all are the folk songs OF diffefeAt
countries. =
Archibald r. Dawson and T. W.
Surett have collected some excellent
and familiar ones in an inexpensive
book called Fifty Rotc Songs" pub
lished by the Boston Music company.
These include English and other fer.
eign folk songs.
A gay. song for baby as he eats his
breakfast and quiet one as he lies
! down to go to sleep-these will sink In
deep and form wonderful foundation
for the music of his life.
With the older babies have regu-
lar singing time. Five O'Clock 10 q
good hour. The children of whom ]
speak had singing party" every day
at Eve, and sometimes the neighbors
came in and sang with them. Their
mother grew to be such strong In.
fluence in the community that many
persons came to her for advice ana
refreshment.
Singing instead Of Naegins.
I Nagging is often simply q lack Of
something better to do. A friend ex
this woman in speaking OF her bone
life said, "She has substituted stRg
ing for nagging.
"Small Songs for Small Singers by
Neidiinger (G. Schirmer, New York
publisher; $3.50 illustrated; IS esnts
without illustrationsJ Is a good eoilcc-
ton for children from four to siS
years old. These songs are very mH-
steal, simple, and rather full OF Jokes
--"jokey" as one child sald.
Here are the words of great favers
tie in this collection:
Mister frog came out of the pond one Gag,
And found himself in the rain:
Said he: ''Ill get wet, and may easoA
cold
| SO he jumped in the pond again.
! Joy is the best tonic there iS, ana
| happiness creates health. The .ehif-
| dren's song-hour will affect the atHnes-
phere of the whole house.
Another good lot, Of songs is csf-
/ lection of Mature Songs for Chill.
dren" by Knowlton, published by Mill
ton Bradley company, Springfield.
Mass, for 81. and there are lovely
| collections by Eleanor Smith and Jes-
sic Gaynor.
Any mother who has had the resrt-
lation music lessons can play simpis
songs and can learn to guide her chill
! .iren into singing life.
Teach the children to listen 10
birds and to remember their calls.
! There Is book OF bird-calls By Olds
which is very good. It's title is ''Twes-
ty-five Bird Songs for Children" ana
ii is published. by G. Schirmer, New
York, for $1.25.
Sing, Come and be washed" Ia
stead OF saying it. Here is iittis
tune spontaneously sung by child
Of six: Something ever, ever, sings
The little child was right. but the
trouble is, most Of us do not listen 3.
Ask your question in song, mother.
and soon you viii be answered by q
cheerful singing reply. t
Baby. where are yOn.' sung On
simple ascending scale viii sees
bring /, musical reply from hides
child Of u am hiding here"
Play softly, sing gently and listsa.
Teach to FOLLOW Tune.
During the day take some familiar
tune and swing the rhythm with the
arms. Let the children step it, ind
ing out where the slow and quick steps
come. .Afterward. have them draw
lines on fhe blackboard to show this
tlura ton, thus :,z.-- - -
Let them flnd in which direction the
tune goes, ny or down, and make pie
lures of it either denoting the direc-
lion with sweep of the hands OF
drawing q sweeping linz on the black
board. %
Singing. swinging. stepping and max.
ing pitch and duration pictures, the
children lire in music as fish in water
or birds IN the air.
IL there are auarreis. and tears. play
something pretty and think the scrs
Harmony, See how this Gains the at.
mosplieie. The mother / speak OF
controlled her children almost entire
ly through the power of constructive
thought and music. They easily yield
ed to the word Peace sung gentiy
over and over.
Mothers, If they only knew 1t, have
the making of new world Of love /,
their keeping, and music is torch t.
light them on the way.
To mother who does net know
any music, say, IL you can, get som.
one to come for an hour every da,
to sing with your children at twilight
See to it that the words OF the song
are constructive and beautiful ans
learn to sing little yourself. Ever.
! one can sing little.
Join the community chorus and
! there isn't one, start one.
"a singing army is a winning army.
A singing family is spiritually grow
ing family and music the link tina
brings heaven to earth.