How to Use Music in a Bedtime Routine
When I think back to my daughter's first few years, I am almost immediately taken back to the quiet nights when I rocked her to sleep while singing her special lullaby.
I Can Do Things: A Children's Song About Being Brave & Doing Hard Things
... This month, it’s a song I wrote while doing a songwriting game with one of my long-term students. She’s a teen and she writes incredible lyrics. I help her put music to them with her guitar, and basically, it’s the best hour of “work” in my whole week.
Music for Kiddos Holiday Gift Guide 2017
High-quality (in-tune!!) music gifts that are engaging and support development can be surprisingly hard to find. Stores are full of instruments that are adorable, but when you get them home, you find that most of them are not functional.
10 Empowering Songs for Kids
As kids grow, it's amazing to see how much they absorb from the world around them when it doesn't look like they're paying attention. More than once, my husband and I have shared a knowing glance that says, "Oh, she was listening." Music applies, too.
Should my kid listen to "KID" music?
The short answer? Sure... if they like it. The long answer? In music therapy research, there are two big themes that come up over and over again...
10 Halloween Songs for Kids
I'm a little late getting this post up. Why? HALLOWEEN IS NOT MY FAVORITE.
Kind of strange, considering that I went ALL OUT on costumes as a kid. They were completely crazy and off the wall and nobody ever stopped me.
10 Relaxing Songs for Kids
I keep finding myself sifting through music for songs to help my 4-year-old feel more relaxed. There's something about this time of year (new school year, new routine) that tends to trigger stress. We've been using a lot of music. I know music is my "thing", but as a parent, I'm so incredibly grateful for it. It can halt escalating emotions and take them in a completely different direction.
10 Songs for Community & Friendship
When the world feels a little heavy, it does the soul a lot of good to hang out with little kids. They tend to wear their heart on their sleeves, nothing stops them from giving a new friend a bear hug and pure joy is accessible just moments after sadness.
10 Songs for Dancing with Kids Ages 0 - 6
Sometimes when the house is a disaster, tempers are short and the energy is endless... it's time to dance. I believe dancing with your child can build memories, release tension and can even contribute to increasing their confidence.
Calming a Crying Baby (A Music Therapist's Method)
We had some weekend visitors stay at our house not too long ago and they brought their sweet 18-month old. He was sick, missed a nap and was overstimulated after a long day in the sun. Predictably, he had a rough time calming down for a nap. Before long, it escalated to him being completely inconsolable. Within minutes, he was fast asleep. The method I used is something I've used time and time again with music therapy clients and my own daughter.
Hello! I’m Stephanie Leavell, the creator of Music for Kiddos, a mom to a spunky young daughter, a seasoned performer, an experienced music educator, and a board certified music therapist who is passionate about using music to help kids succeed.
I share high-quality music and music resources for music therapists, music educators, and parents on this blog and inside of the Music For Kiddos Community. So glad you’re here!
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Our favorite lesson plans!! This bundle features our top 5 lesson plans, each featuring original music by Stephanie Leavell. Includes a 98-page PDF with chords, lyrics, and visuals, notated leadsheets AND implementation videos for each lesson plan (for even more tips and tricks).
*this lesson plan bundle does not include MP3s of the songs.
Themes: Bears, Rainforest, Robots, Space & Transportation