Neat, right? \u00a0So without further ado, here’s\u00a0. . .<\/p>\n
Part I: \u00a0Songs for Little Helpers<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Ember-helping.jpg\")
Ember scrambling the matzo brei, a Passover favorite!<\/p><\/div>\n
It\u2019s not easy to get the housework done, especially with little ones in tow. \u00a0Have you ever struggled to keep up with housekeeping\u00a0because it feels like your\u00a0toddler\u00a0just keeps needing your attention? \u00a0I know I have. \u00a0Fortunately, there’s an easier way! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe great secret to getting housework done while your children are with you is to\u00a0involve them as much a possible in\u00a0the work. \u00a0It may seem daunting at first, but with a little forethought, you’ll soon find that most of the things we do around the house can\u00a0easily accommodate a few extra small helping hands. \u00a0In fact, most housekeeping task are<\/span>\u00a0a lot friendlier to children’s involvement than what a lot of us do in our work live outside the home. \u00a0For many of us, taking care of the home may be one of the main areas of life where we work with\u00a0our hands, rather than interacting with a computer or screen.<\/p>\nRemember that for little ones, there is no distinction between work and play. \u00a0It is all connected for them– just another way to be present with you, and present to their own sensory experience of the world. \u00a0For inspiration, here are a few tasks that children can easily help with:<\/p>\n
\n- Folding laundry<\/span><\/li>\n
- Washing dishes<\/li>\n
- Chopping vegetables (using a butter knife, or other child friendly knife)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Tearing up lettuce<\/li>\n
- Putting snacks in\u00a0compartments in a snack box<\/span><\/li>\n
- Mixing, stirring, scooping<\/li>\n
- Cleaning the shower<\/span><\/li>\n
- Setting the table<\/span><\/li>\n
- Filling water glasses<\/span><\/li>\n
- Weeding the garden<\/span><\/li>\n
- Vacuuming, sweeping, washing<\/span><\/li>\n
- Putting together a bouquet for the table<\/li>\n
- Setting a new\u00a0candle in the candle holder<\/li>\n
- And so much more.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.noevenable.com\/singingcircles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Washing-Playsilks.jpg\")
Washing play silks. One of Ember’s favorite tasks.<\/p><\/div>\n
But wait, you say… \u00a0I thought this was about singing. \u00a0What does all this have to do with music?<\/p>\n
A lot, actually. \u00a0Children learn best through imitation. \u00a0When you model working with presence, intention, and lightness of heart, your children will follow. \u00a0And there’s no sweeter invitation to join you than softly singing as you work. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThink of your work song as a signal. \u00a0When you sing, you draw your child’s attention to <\/span>what we’re doing now. <\/b>\u00a0You don\u2019t need to announce the song or the activity. \u00a0Just start working, sing as you work, and watch your child take notice. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nGenerally, with time, it gets easier and easier, as children come to expect chores as regular\u00a0activities. \u00a0In my own family, I usually have only to sing a line or so of the usual song we use for something, and one or both of my children come running. \u00a0My four year old son prefers tasks related to food prep. \u00a0My nearly two year old daughter is indiscriminate. \u00a0Whatever the activity, as soon as she hears the song, she drops what she’s doing and runs over, often crying out\u00a0\u201cPeregrine help! \u00a0Peregrine help!\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nYour child may not want to participate every time, of course. \u00a0 Mine don’t. \u00a0And that\u2019s okay. \u00a0I love knowing that regardless of whether they participate in a given moment, singing helps them be included in the mood of loving, diligent work. \u00a0Furthermore, I know\u00a0they’re learning. \u00a0They\u2019re learning how to do the same tasks I do, with the same care. \u00a0They\u2019re learning how I\u00a0feel about the work I’m\u00a0doing. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPerhaps most importantly, though, they’re learning that home is a place where people sing, sometimes, while they work. \u00a0And a home like that is a wonderful\u00a0place to be a child.\u00a0 Working together, being together, sharing the load… \u00a0Whatever you’re\u00a0going through, simply going through it together. \u00a0This is the stuff strong, close families are made of. \u00a0Why not let your own voices be the soundtrack to this journey together?<\/span><\/p>\nSo I’m about to share these videos, but before I do, one caveat… \u00a0The little one in this video is my nineteen month old. \u00a0You\u2019ll notice she\u2019s staring at the camera. \u00a0Because we\u2019re generally a media free family, she almost never gets to see my laptop open, so she\u2019s understandably curious about it. \u00a0I have to confess that I feel ambivalent about having my daughter\u00a0with me in these videos, because I don’t want her to become prematurely self conscious in the way cameras can inspire. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHowever,\u00a0as a working mother who is also primary caregiver for my children, so far this is the only way I\u2019ve found to consistently produce video content! \u00a0So for now,\u00a0I’m embracing this compromise.<\/p>\n
Ok\u2026 \u00a0enough talking! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHere are this week\u2019s songs for little helpers.<\/span><\/p>\nSetting the Table: \u00a0Polly Put the Kettle On<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ember scrambling the matzo brei, a Passover favorite!<\/p><\/div>\n
It\u2019s not easy to get the housework done, especially with little ones in tow. \u00a0Have you ever struggled to keep up with housekeeping\u00a0because it feels like your\u00a0toddler\u00a0just keeps needing your attention? \u00a0I know I have. \u00a0Fortunately, there’s an easier way! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The great secret to getting housework done while your children are with you is to\u00a0involve them as much a possible in\u00a0the work. \u00a0It may seem daunting at first, but with a little forethought, you’ll soon find that most of the things we do around the house can\u00a0easily accommodate a few extra small helping hands. \u00a0In fact, most housekeeping task are<\/span>\u00a0a lot friendlier to children’s involvement than what a lot of us do in our work live outside the home. \u00a0For many of us, taking care of the home may be one of the main areas of life where we work with\u00a0our hands, rather than interacting with a computer or screen.<\/p>\n Remember that for little ones, there is no distinction between work and play. \u00a0It is all connected for them– just another way to be present with you, and present to their own sensory experience of the world. \u00a0For inspiration, here are a few tasks that children can easily help with:<\/p>\n Washing play silks. One of Ember’s favorite tasks.<\/p><\/div>\n But wait, you say… \u00a0I thought this was about singing. \u00a0What does all this have to do with music?<\/p>\n A lot, actually. \u00a0Children learn best through imitation. \u00a0When you model working with presence, intention, and lightness of heart, your children will follow. \u00a0And there’s no sweeter invitation to join you than softly singing as you work. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Think of your work song as a signal. \u00a0When you sing, you draw your child’s attention to <\/span>what we’re doing now. <\/b>\u00a0You don\u2019t need to announce the song or the activity. \u00a0Just start working, sing as you work, and watch your child take notice. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Generally, with time, it gets easier and easier, as children come to expect chores as regular\u00a0activities. \u00a0In my own family, I usually have only to sing a line or so of the usual song we use for something, and one or both of my children come running. \u00a0My four year old son prefers tasks related to food prep. \u00a0My nearly two year old daughter is indiscriminate. \u00a0Whatever the activity, as soon as she hears the song, she drops what she’s doing and runs over, often crying out\u00a0\u201cPeregrine help! \u00a0Peregrine help!\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your child may not want to participate every time, of course. \u00a0 Mine don’t. \u00a0And that\u2019s okay. \u00a0I love knowing that regardless of whether they participate in a given moment, singing helps them be included in the mood of loving, diligent work. \u00a0Furthermore, I know\u00a0they’re learning. \u00a0They\u2019re learning how to do the same tasks I do, with the same care. \u00a0They\u2019re learning how I\u00a0feel about the work I’m\u00a0doing. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps most importantly, though, they’re learning that home is a place where people sing, sometimes, while they work. \u00a0And a home like that is a wonderful\u00a0place to be a child.\u00a0 Working together, being together, sharing the load… \u00a0Whatever you’re\u00a0going through, simply going through it together. \u00a0This is the stuff strong, close families are made of. \u00a0Why not let your own voices be the soundtrack to this journey together?<\/span><\/p>\n So I’m about to share these videos, but before I do, one caveat… \u00a0The little one in this video is my nineteen month old. \u00a0You\u2019ll notice she\u2019s staring at the camera. \u00a0Because we\u2019re generally a media free family, she almost never gets to see my laptop open, so she\u2019s understandably curious about it. \u00a0I have to confess that I feel ambivalent about having my daughter\u00a0with me in these videos, because I don’t want her to become prematurely self conscious in the way cameras can inspire. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However,\u00a0as a working mother who is also primary caregiver for my children, so far this is the only way I\u2019ve found to consistently produce video content! \u00a0So for now,\u00a0I’m embracing this compromise.<\/p>\n Ok\u2026 \u00a0enough talking! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here are this week\u2019s songs for little helpers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Setting the Table: \u00a0Polly Put the Kettle On<\/strong><\/h3>\n