’Tis the Season…To Sing!
One of my fondest memories is sitting under the Christmas tree with my dad singing carols and other winter songs. My sisters and I would snuggle next to him and join in with all of our kid hearts. Our favorites were the cheerful refrains (and happy ending) of "Frosty the Snowman" and the contemplative beauty of "Lord of the Dance."
Here's the thing: my dad was a wonderful man, but singing was not one of his many gifts. Despite the wrong pitches and off notes, every year we looked forward to this special tradition with Dad.
I cannot emphasize this enough: IT DID NOT MATTER THAT HE COULD NOT SING WELL, AND IT DOES NOT MATTER TO YOUR CHILD, EITHER.
What matters in singing with children is never the quality of your voice... it's the closeness you create with them through music, and the attention you pay to them with song. Cognitive science now also tells us that singing does many amazing things to the growing brains of young children, preparing its various regions to develop language and the ability to communicate.
What a gift! Consider making your own holiday tradition of singing special songs together at home - and don't worry about whether you are hitting every note musically, because you will be in so many other ways.
- Laura Raphael, Children's Services Coordinator