This is our series on ways that older children can use music to play with and care for younger siblings or friends. Explore the tabs above.
With thanks to our friend Emma for her great suggestions, and for allowing Children for Health to use the magical illustrations by Charlotte Cleveland on our blog. Emma Hutchinson is an Early Childhood Music Specialist. Buy her books of musical activities and songs here.
Emma has currated a playlist on Spotify with more great songs for children.
Look at the baby! Listen to baby! See how baby moves and listen to the sounds she makes! Is she a singer? Can she make music? How is this possible!
Our friend Emma is an expert in understanding music in babies and young children. When baby was growing inside he heard lots of sounds, songs and music too. What Emma likes to do is bring it out more and show all the people that are caring for baby how to bring out this musical joy. This makes them happy. It makes mothers, brothers and sisters enjoy baby even more!
When you are with baby helping baby to hear new sounds, YOU can help. Get close to your baby brother or sister. With your voice, make some up and down sounds – hums, squeaks, clicks, booms! Your baby will soon know and love your voice. This will make your baby feel loved and safe Sound making and humming are a lovely start to singing a whole song, or making up a new one. If your baby is tired make a soft hum, a gentle rhythm and rhyme, make your voice go up and down to help calm your baby.
See below for three lovely YouTube videos and sheet music.
When you and your friends are with the babies and young children think of the songs you love to sing. With your friends make them even lovelier. Mix up the notes! Make the sounds a little higher and softer. Wiggle the notes! Hold your baby and swing her gently to soft singing. Babies want to feel safe. Gentle play with them makes them feel happy and safe.
Maybe you are all walking somewhere, with babes strapped safely in a harness or your arms. Repeat a little humming tune up and down, over and over again. “mmmmmm, mmmmm, mm mm mmmmmmm” as you walk. Notice how your legs move, the rhythm, the up and down of your knees, copy this with your special hum. Baby will hear your voice, and feels the hum through his body. You too, will feel better too, relaxed, and steady, as baby is happy, and you walk.
Singing to Soothe Baby
Use gentle rocking movements and with just two notes (think of an ambulance “neeee noooooorrrrr” sound). Sing “baby, baby, I love you” or “sleepy baby, moon’s up high”. Even if the words mean nothing to your baby, your soft tune will calm little one.
Singing to help babies sit up and think!
Did you know that our brains grew faster when we were babies, more than at ANY OTHER TIME! This might seem strange as babies can’t talk or move on their own. But it is true and it is really important for babies to hear and see new things all the time, and to feel as calm and as safe as possible. When baby is happy with you this can help baby for the rest of it’s life!
When you have baby with you, add a little skipping rhythm to help you with tidying, cleaning, working, waiting for a bus, bathing. Humming a skipping tune will help you get your work done, and keep your baby happy too!
Sing a favourite song whilst looking at your baby with big happy eyes. Eye contact is very important! Make silly faces too, and watch your baby copy your expressions.
Music and Mealtimes
Sometimes your baby sibling can be crying just before food. They are hungry! When you are ready to feed baby, hum when you move as you get baby’s food. Make a silly song, a silly sound, to distract and help to make things calm. Or you could try making a humming sound and then stop! Again! Hum and then stop! Baby will look at you. Look back. Hum again, stop! Look at baby with a little smile, then continue. Then make a ZOOM sound as you put the food onto a spoon or bowl and give to baby.
Walking together with your baby or young child to this lively song helps to develop large motor (physical) skills and is a wonderful way to explore the immediate environment together. Try this song, moving together to allow your baby to feel the musical beat through movement. When you end the song, stay still and quiet for a moment before asking “what can you see?”
Even if your baby does not vocalise, it is your lovely voice that matters! Lots of eye contact will help to share a special moment such as hearing a bird sing, or pointing to a tree, animal or person. Walking through the park can be ‘walking to the seaside’ or ‘walking to the hills’ – anything goes!
Sing these songs with your whole family for a happy, healthy baby!
Hushaby!
I Know Where I’m Going!
