Tag: kidlit

Normalize Crying and Music Along with Rose Lani!

Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube | SoundCloud

Welcome to my “community media” space for music and learning!

Media of the Week

Ingrid Christina shares their original “Boo Boo Song” to normalize crying.
Coming soon to your favorite streaming service!

Hot Tip

Don’t say, “Don’t Cry.” Instead say, “Ow!”

Did you know that crying is actually good for us? Crying is healing—it’s the body’s natural mechanism for releasing pain. Both physical and emotional.

And yet, for some reason, even I can find myself telling hurt kids not to cry. Why? Crying is natural, healthy, and soothing.

As a test, try singing along to Janis Joplin’s “Cry Baby” and not feeling instantly better.

Crying is healing—it’s the body’s natural mechanism for releasing pain.

I believe we do our kids a disservice when we deny their discomfort. Saying, “Don’t cry,” or shushing them dismisses their distress and teaches them to doubt their feelings. It also sends a message about who’s there for them.

So the next time a kid bumps their head at the library, try a validating, “Ouch!” Or if they cry at preschool drop-off, remind them that goodbyes are hard for everyone.

Kids appreciate it when I tell them I miss my mom too. In my experience, letting them vent their pain and extending some solidarity gets them back in action faster.

And I guarantee, if you play them the “Boo Boo Song,” they will relate.

Give Your Input – What’s the best way to treat a boo boo?

Featured Creator

This week, I’m featuring children’s musician, songwriter, teacher, and storytimer, Rose Lani Oyamot! Ms. Rose has taught me so much about the ukulele. She showed me how to keep the Hawaiian language alive by pronouncing it: “Oo-koo-le-le.”

Ms. Rose and her band, the Rosie Posies, have three streaming songs available with more coming soon. I play them every week after my library program and you should too!

And if you want to learn ukulele, check out the virtual course we taught together: Ukulele for Librarians and Teachers. Thank you for all the music joy, Ms. Rose!

Quote of the Week

You can learn to play ukulele and make music magic!

Rose Lani Oyamot

Important Dates

-Attend a Sing, Rhyme, and Play Program with Ms. Christina-

◊ Ukulele Baby Lap Time at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library

Fridays at 10:30 a.m., Ages 0-2

  • June 13, 20, and 27
  • July 11, 18, and 25
  • August 1

◊ Children’s Song and Story Time at the Georgetown Waterfront Park

Thursdays at 10:30 a.m., All Ages

  • June 26
  • July 10, and 24

◊ Dinosaur Pajama Party at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library

Saturday—July 19—at 11 a.m., All Ages

Final Thoughts

We’re so glad you came! Until next time …

Ingrid Christina with a yellow bucket hat, a blue shirt, and their ukulele. Text reads, "Sing, Rhyme, and Play" and "The Sing Rhyme and Play Song."

◊ Comment below and share this blog.

◊ Listen to SR&P on Apple Music, Spotify, or wherever you stream your music.

◊ Get more at Storytime Solidarity.

◊ Tell us what topics you’d like to see.

◊ Be the world we want for our kids!

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Sharing a Literacy Secret and Being the Action with Jim Gill!

Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube | SoundCloud

Welcome to my “community media” space for music and learning.

Photo of the Week

Board books laid out on brightly colored cushions in the programming room before Ingrid Christina's Ukulele Baby Lap Time program
Books laid out on colorful cushions at Ms. Christina’s Ukulele Baby Lap Time program.

Hot Tip

Let them hold books! Did you know that simply holding a book is an early literacy skill?

Babies enjoy books by grasping, opening, and closing them, and turning those thick cardboard stock pages.

Playing with books is not just fun and games, it’s a key skill!

When babies and toddlers handle books, they build manual dexterity, fine motor skills, and that all-important positive association. That’s right—playing with books is not just fun and games, it’s a key early literacy skill!

Because of their durability, board books are a good choice for young bookworms. Board books are especially good if your little one likes to bite into a good book—gross but also developmentally appropriate. Note: You can save the library’s collection by gifting board books to your favorite babies!

Watch Ms. Christina demo the “Parts of a Book Rhyme” on YouTube.

Listen to the “Parts of a Book Rhyme” on Spotify.

Listen to the “Parts of a Book Rhyme” on Apple Music.

Bonus: Build your child’s vocabulary. Say this rhyme before reading or handling a book together, as I do in my literacy programs.

PARTS OF A BOOK RHYME

Here’s a lovely book of mine,

Here’s the cover, here’s the spine.

Here’s some info that is vital—

Author, illustrator, title.

Open it just like a door,

Turn the pages to explore.

When you’re finished, say, “The End!”

And then you close it up again.

Just watch! Even before your tyke can talk, they will pretend to read by babbling along to the pictures. In doing so, they are cultivating memory and creativity. When you read the book to them, you can help them connect print and speech. Move your pointer finger along the words as you go.

That’s the secret all kids know. That books bring tangible benefits too. That the feeling of a good book in the hands is the first step to becoming a lifelong reader. So get their fingers on those pages ASAP and watch the learning unfold.

Funny story. Before my own child understood what reading was, she brought me books and said, “Mommy, talk to the words!” 🙂

Do you have an adorable anecdote about babies and books? Tell us in the comments below!

Give Your Input – What’s the best place for children to enjoy books?

Important Dates

Attend a Sing, Rhyme, and Play Program with Ms. Christina

◊ Ukulele Baby Lap Time at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library

Fridays at 10:30 a.m., Ages 0-2

  • May 16 and 23
  • June 13, 20, and 27
  • July 11, 18, and 25

◊ Children’s Song and Story Time at the Georgetown Waterfront Park

Thursdays at 10:30 a.m., All Ages

  • June 26
  • July 10, and 24

◊ Dinosaur Pajama Party at the Mary Riley Styles Public Library

Saturday—July 19—at 11 a.m., All Ages

Featured Creator

This week, I’m featuring Jim Gill, a musician, author, and child development specialist I admire. Jim recently announced a new video series called, “YOU are the action!“

These new videos actually get children to *look away* from the screens and *toward* their trusted grownups. The fun comes from *listening* to the song and dancing along together.

Strengthening the child-caregiver bond is a goal of mine too, so I applaud Jim’s new video approach. Let’s get Jim on our playlists getting children to listen, move, and PLAY.

Quote of the Week

YOU are the action!

Jim Gill

Final Thoughts

We’re so glad you came! Until next time …

Ingrid Christina with a yellow bucket hat, a blue shirt, and their ukulele. Text reads, "Sing, Rhyme, and Play" and "The Sing Rhyme and Play Song."

◊ Comment with your answers and share this blog with others.

◊ Listen to SR&P on Apple Music, Spotify, or wherever you stream your music.

◊ Get more at Storytime Solidarity.

◊ Tell us what topics you’d like to see.

◊ Be the world we want for our kids!

Want to receive these posts as emails? Subscribe below.

Contact: info@singrhymeandplay.com

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.