@musicwithnancy
🎶🐢Slow down and sing together🐢🎶 58 1
"Pat, Pat, Pat" in action! 22 1
Tummy Time is an important exercise during infancy that helps develop muscles in the neck, shoulders and arms. Many babies are uncomfortable in this position, but it's a bit easier to tolerate while getting a nice massage. "Pat, Pat, Pat" is the song I use with music and movement groups that gets everyone focussed on the beat while baby enjoys the auditory and physical stimulation. Link to my album "Wonderful You" (where you'll find this song and others) in my bio👆🏼 17 7
Calendar songs: 16 5
Children remind us, brilliantly, how to truly appreciate a moment. I was chatting with a 7 year old about one of my songs, and she asked to hear it on my phone. I took it out, and we sat and listened to it together. Afterwards, I said, "It feels good to just sit and listen to a song together, doesn't it?" She agreed. Then, she suggested: "I'll take your picture, so you can remember what feeling good looks like." 🥰🎶 40 4

Parachute Songs and Games for Young Children

The parachute: Refocus your music group with this fun group prop!

The Parachute: Your secret “refocus trick” for small music groups!

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, which come at no cost to you. If you would like more information please review my disclosure & privacy policy.

If you already have a parachute of your own, and you use it in your music and movement groups, you know the “gasp factor” this tool magically triggers–even before you start your activity!

Everyone loves the colours, the feel, the airy, ripply beauty and movement of a parachute. Children love crawling under it and “hiding”. They love popping out and “surprising” everyone. They love watching balls bouncing like popcorn as the parachute shakes.

Shaking the parachute is also a great way to introduce what “the beat” is, and how “rhythm” works along with the beat. My song, “Shake, Shake, Shake” was written to be used SPECIFICALLY with the parachute, but you can also use scarves and egg shakers (see below).

 

 

This parachute is my magic “refocus” tool!

Click the parachute above to get your own just like it!

If you don’t already have a parachute, and you get the one above–I guarantee you’ll love it, and so will your music and movement group members. The vibrant colours are stimulating for babies and toddlers, and the gentle movement is mesmerizing as you sing together.

I have a few different songs you can use with your parachute:

“Shake, Shake, Shake” is my personal go-to parachute song. Download/listen to the full song here.

Just follow along with me as you shake, shake, shake!

Here’s what the song sounds and looks like:

Try using “Shake, Shake, Shake” with scarves! Click here to get this beautiful and useful scarf set: 
Click the image above to get these scarves!
 
Make “Shake, Shake, Shake” a more focussed percussive music activity and use these egg shakers!
Click this photo to get your own set of egg shakers!

Some other parachute songs you can sing:

“Walk Around”, from “The Seasons”: Walk around holding the parachute and just follow the directions in the song!

 

“Side to Side”, from “The Seasons”: Hold the parachute while standing still. Can you follow all the directions while holding the parachute?

“Hello, Hello”, from “I Know I’ll Grow….”: Shake the parachute/scarf/shaker and touch it to each part of your body in the song as we sing about them!

Share your ideas with the other music educators and parents/caregivers in my group on Facebook. Request to join here.

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