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music

My Favorite Christmas Songs

1001Tonight I was on hold with the warranty company for my camera. Being the clutz that I am I dropped it & broke the flash. The hold time was lengthy. I might have been annoyed, but my wait seemed easier as I listened to the beautiful sounds of the Christmas carols that were playing. One of my favorite songs played. I found myself hoping that they would not come back right away because I wanted to finish listening to the lovely tune. As the representative processed my request I started compiling a list of my favorite Christmas songs.

All Time Favorites

1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

2. Walking In A Winter Wonderland

3. I’ll Be Home For Christmas

4. Please Come Home For Christmas

5. Chestnuts Roasting on An Open Fire

Favorite Christmas Originals

1. Rocking Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee

2. Merry Christmas Darling by The Carpenters

3. All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

4. Happy X-mas – (War is Over) by John Lennon

5. Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney

Favorite Children’s

1. The Chipmunk Christmas Song

2. Up On The Housetop

3. Frosty The Snowman

4. Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer

5. The Charlie Brown Christmas Song

Favorite Religious Christmas Songs

1. The Little Drummer Boy

2. Oh Holy Night

3. Do You Hear What I Hear

4. Silent Night

5. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Favorite Silly Christmas Songs

1. Dominick The Donkey

2. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause

3. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer

4. Walking Around In Women’s Underwear

5. All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth

Disclaimer* These are my favorite songs. I am not claiming that these are the best, they are simply the ones that I like best. Please feel free to share your favorites. I would love to hear from you.

The Power Of Music – Influencing Your Child With Song

Music.jpgMusic is a powerful thing. Certain songs that you hear on the radio, can take you back to a certain time, or place in your life. It can bring forth emotions & feelings that you had forgotten were there. It can make you cry or smile, soothe you or get you pumped. It has an amazing effect on all of us big & small.

It’s calming. When my daughter was a newborn, she cried all the time. Rocking or dancing with her was my most popular method for calming my little girl & it was usually always accompanied by song. My favorite song to sing her was ‘Once upon a dream’. I still sing it to her now, only now she joins in.

It is said that introduction to music at a young age aids in physical and mental development. We enrolled our daughter in music classes when she was 18 months old. She loved everything about it. She was fascinated by the instruments and the lyrics. She was learning to talk during this time. It was fun hearing her try to mimic the song lyrics. Each session began with a song introducing each classmate. What a wonderful tool to help remember your classmates names, I thought. It is a great memorization tool. How do you think kids have learned their ABC’s for years?

It gets them moving. If your child is anything like mine, she loves to dance. Whether it is an up tempo song or a more soothing ballad type, she will move to the beat of the music.

It is incredible the influence music can have in influencing our lives…

Our daughter is like a tornado through our home. I call her “Destructor” because she leaves a path of destruction in her wake where ever she goes.

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Mai has not been the best at picking up her toys. She is great & taking them out, but does not like putting them back. Mai is at an age now of understanding. She may not always listen, but she hears me & comprehends what I am saying. I have tried several different methods for getting her to put her things away. She often liked to challenge mommy & would take out some toys, pour them out & then say “Mommy pick up”. No, no, no, this was not going to happen.

One day after she had made a particularly big mess. I started singing while picking up her toys. I asked Mai to help me.

We’re going to pick up our toys…

We’re going to make some noise… (making noise)

We’re going to pick up our toys, right now…

(Clap hands) Good girl!

I have only sung this song probably about 3 times.  A couple of days ago, my daughter in a “destructor” moment, pulled out a box of her flash cards & threw them all over the floor. Mommy very calmly, said “Mai Mai, please pick up your cards.” All of a sudden she broke out singing. “Pick up tooooooyyyys, make noooooisse…pick up toys, right now. Gggggood girl.” She proceeded to pick up all of her flash cards & continued singing. I was floored. Floored not only that she remembered this little song, but that it actually worked. I could not believe it. She has done this everyday since. Never underestimate the power of song.