This is a piece I put together to add to the course Wiki, so I thought I may as well use it on my blog. I found posting on the Course Wiki confusing - how did everyone else go?
Wednesday mornings are my favourite at work - I take off my shoes, lower myself onto the floor and share rhymes and songs with babies, toddlers and their Mums ( & also Dads, Grandparents & Aunties). We do two sessions at Mandurah Library, one for Babies (Lapsit) @ 10am and Toddlers (Romper) @ 10.30am. This is an hour of fun, laughter, singing and stories.Rhymetime has been at Mandurah now for the last five years and came out of our involvement in the Better Beginnings Early Literacy project and I have had the pleasure of seeing babies grow into Toddlers who are now do their own rhyming and sing out loud, each in their own key. The benefits for these children as they apporach school age is immense in helping with their literacy development.So, Do you Rhyme?This is one library programme which many staff find daunting, citing they can't sing or perform, but these skills come with practice. What you need is a sense of fun, the abililty to get down on the floor (don't laugh, it's not as easy as it seems sometimes) and you can use cheatsheets for the words to the rhymes. The children are not expecting a 'Wiggles' performance. If your library runs Rhymetime sessions, think about becoming involved, go on - have some fun!
Yes, I totally agree, it is great fun and no I can't sing and definately can't dance!
ReplyDeleteI remember the local child health nurse and i trying to get rhymetime introduced to our library several years ago, great to see it evolving.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to hear when you're on the issues desk and you wouldn't believe the amount of seniors (especially the women) that comment on remembering the nursery rhymes from their own childhood and even having a sneaky little jig as the children sing along - it reminds me of the saying "Grannies are just antique little girls" -It adds a real 'feel good' factor to the day..
ReplyDeleteYou make it all sound so wonderful and enchanting, but I do think you need to be a special kind of person to get down on the floor with the rugrats and keep smiling - you also need a biggg voice! and endless patience. Well done!
ReplyDelete