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children's music

Articles

Read the published parenting articles written by Angela Russ

Published Links: CA Headstart	CA Head Start "I am Moving. I am Learning" Published 4-2007 Note: Selections from abridgeclub.com music CDs are used in the IMIL training. The popular CD music titles, "Smart & Tasty 1: Good Food Moves," and "Smart Moves 2" continued to be the featured titles in ongoing training throughout the regions. California Head Start Association Summer Health Institute - June 6, 7 & 8, 2007 Marriott Oakland City Center In collaboration with the Region IX Office of Head Start, STG International, Inc. Region IX Technical Assistance Network and the California Head Start Association, the National training team from I am Moving, I am Learning (IMIL) was featured at the Summer Health Institute. IMIL was created in response to regional and national trends toward childhood obesity. The project was designed to fit within the Head Start Performance Standards and the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework through enhancements, chosen by the individual Head Start program, to current teaching practices by providing more focused guidance on quality movement, gross and fine motor development and child nutrition. Additionally, IMIL goes beyond the classroom teaching practices to enhance the approach family service workers take with Head Start families in the area of movement and nutrition as well as in the approach Head Start health staff takes in working with children and their families. IMIL uses a train-the-trainer model with directors and their management teams attending a 2½ day training event. The Summer Health Institute was held at the Marriott Oakland City Center, in California.
Published in print: Potpourri News May 2006 (IL Assoc. for Child Development) Glory Cloud Publications Published online: ABOUT Fatherhood Interactive Dads Alphabet Soup Learn a Little Eating Diet Spider Den Pure Directory PR Web	10 Fun Ways to Get Young Children to Eat Healthier Published 2-2006 March is National Nutrition Month 10 Fun Ways to Get Young Children to Eat Healthier Parents and caregivers have the sole responsibility to introduce healthy food choices to young children. Children learn from the meals you offer, the way you serve food, the way you shop, and the examples you set. They develop habits early that, once learned, can last a lifetime, so it’s never too early to make a change. It’s important to take every opportunity to promote a healthy active lifestyle. Try these ten creative ways to get young children to eat healthier. Prepare Healthy Meals Together Engaging children in the preparation of kid-friendly healthy dishes is so fun and so very messy, but children are more likely to eat something that they have helped to prepare. So bring out those props, such as chef's hats and aprons, and then those bowls, spoons and cups. While kids are helping, it is a good time to introduce portions, simple fractions, and units of measure. Even young children can be challenged to pour from one cup into another, or stack paper cups to work on their fine motor and cognitive skills. When you are finished preparing something to eat, show children how to set the table, so that you can all dine together. Children who eat meals with their families tend to have better diets, not just because they are consuming planned meals, but because of the positive examples that are set at the table. It’s also a great time to discuss the events of the day, master the use of utensils, and practice table manners. Get Creative Design silly food faces out of fresh fruit and vegetable slices, and come up with amusing, ridiculous names for the healthy foods you prepare. Celery and raisins become “ants on a log,” peanut butter and pretzels can be “mud on a stick,” and spaghetti with tomato sauce can turn into “wiggly worms.” The golden words that keep children eating healthy foods are “distraction” and “imagination.” The apple wedge is a boat, and our mouth is the river. Toss goldfish in a bowl of soup and see if they can swim. Raisins are thirsty grapes. Peas are a food made out of green (from the children's book entitled, "I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato"). Tie life's everyday fun activities to a dining experience. Then become a consummate actor or a verbal Picasso to get children to taste something new. Pack Snacks Together Children can also benefit from packing snacks for the day, or packing for a picnic. When planning a long-term getaway, encourage them to help with bagging individual portions of fruits, chilled veggies, cheese sticks, Cheerios, crackers, raisins, dried fruits, trail mix, water, 100% juice boxes, and other good choices. These are the images the kids will carry with them throughout their day. When they crave a snack, they will choose wisely. Take Children Shopping Young kids love to play grown-up. On a real excursion to the grocery store, try to avoid flying through each aisle like a secret agent on a mission. Slow down and turn shopping into a learning experience. Allow the children to pick a new fruit or vegetable to try at home. Let them weigh their fresh choice, bag it, and put it on the shopping cart. They can select a boxed choice, as well. In the end they get to put it on the conveyor belt, and even pay for it. Once home, let them help prepare and present it to the family for everyone to enjoy. Plan a Family Taste Test Typically, caregivers cook what they know how to cook, and what they enjoy eating, which leaves little opportunity for new taste experiences at home. Slice a variety of apples such as, Fuji, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, and McIntosh. Set out different kinds of breads such as Sourdough, Rye, Potato, Whole Wheat, Pita, and Tortilla. Taste various dressings for the salad. Many people like certain vegetables cooked, but not raw, or certain fruits baked or dried, but not fresh, or vice versa. Present a fruit or vegetable in a variety of ways. After each taste test, compare the various textures and characteristics while discussing your favorites. The most affordable time to taste test is during a buffet dinner. When children think they'll get to try a new and exiting skill, they tend to forget all about the food that is involved. Introducing culture and traditions is a unique way to develop new dining skills such as using chop sticks, sopping up sauce with flat bread, or sipping directly from a soup bowl. Show Kids How to Grow Food Many local growers are happy to share the farming experience with young children if you call ahead of time. Take a trip to your local farmer’s market where you will often find fun activities for kids. Children are more likely to eat fruit or vegetables that they have grown and picked themselves. Use a planter, or assign a small piece of your yard to start your own private garden. You can begin with tomatoes and build from there. Sing and Dance to Good Food Songs Find songs with lyrics that promote healthy eating and an active lifestyle. If you can’t find music in your local retail store, there are some great offerings available for young children online. Music CDs like “Smart & Tasty, “Bon Appetite,” “Groovin’ Foods,” or “Smart Fruit & Veggie Songs,” can be found with a simple Internet search. Be prepared to pass the potato, count the bananas, scissor kick your celery sticks, interact with your children, have fun, and basically act like a fool. If you don't have access to music, make up silly, rhyming, rhythmic chants about new foods. Shake your hips and try this simple chant: "Apples on the table, green grapes in a bowl, make me shake and shake, straight down to my toes.” 8. Explore Healthy Foods Through Books Find coloring books, puzzle books, sticker books, or picture books that introduce fruits and vegetables as characters, or have interesting stories that revolve around healthy foods. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” explores the lifecycle of a caterpillar after he eats his way through different foods. “Food for Thought” uses food art to entertain the youngsters as they learn basic standards. “We Eat Food That's Fresh” uses a whimsical chef to introduce new fruits and veggies to kids. And, "We Love the Company" gives kids a view of table etiquette. These and many other books make for some great fun and educational reading, while keeping the healthy message alive. A quick and easy resource for nutrition and health education books for children is www.neatsolutions.com. Plan a Craft Activity Let your child design something artistic such as a paper craft that can be proudly displayed on the refrigerator, a fruit face that can be eaten, pasta art on a plate, or a personalized placemat that can be laminated for repeated use. Some web pages offer free downloadable or printable activities that engage children. Search for your favorites or visit www.5aday.org, www.dole5aday.com, and www.nutritionexplorations.org for some interesting offerings. Play Fun Games That Involve Healthy Eating Children who have fun with healthy foods are more likely to want to taste them. Instead of “Duck, Duck, Goose,” play “Grape, Grape, Juice.” Play target practice by tossing play foods into grocery paper bags. Act like you are in a grocery store, and let your child ring up the healthy choices and check you out. Have a tea party, and compliment it with fresh veggies, dried fruit, cucumber sandwiches, or cheese and crackers. Play restaurant, and order a nutritious meal that your child can prepare using fake food. Play verbal “I spy a color” games using fruits and vegetables. Complete puzzles that contain healthy images. Play board and card games that promote healthy eating and educate young children about good food choices. “Mamma Mia” lets kids complete a pizza order. Pea soup, French onion soup, and mushroom soup are what's on the menu with “Too Many Cooks.” The "Makin' Faces Card Game" uses characters built out of fruit and veggie pieces to capture and hold a child's attention. And, “The Fruit and Veggie Race” challenges kids to obtain as many fruit and veggie cards as they can to win the game. * Empower your young children to be agents of change in and away from home. They will not only eat better, they will inspire others to do the same. Angela Russ is a mother, artist, educational trainer, and award-winning producer of music for young children. She presents music & movement to teachers nationwide, is a member of the Recording Academy, and is sole owner of the Russ InVision record label. For more information on Angela and her workshops and accomplishments visit www.abridgeclub.com. © 2006, Russ InVision. All rights reserved.
Published in print: Potpourri News (IL Assoc. for Child Development) Vol. 32, Issue 6, June 2006	Smart & Tasty Chants for Young Eaters Published 6-2006 Songs and simple chants are a great way to introduce young children to healthy food choices. Short or long, serious or whimsical, they are easy to make up, and offer wonderful diversions while commuting, waiting in long lines, introducing a subject, or transitioning from one activity to another. Combining finger plays or instructions for movement, and a little imagination makes a delicious recipe for fun. Chants also offer a variety of ways for children to embrace rhythm, rhyme, repetition, structural sequence, and other language skills that are stepping stones for emergent readers. With the addition of imaginary play and physical activity, children can build a foundation in listening skills, spatial awareness, coordination, memory, and body awareness. Here are a three smart and tasty chants to try on your little ones. To “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” We are fruits so sweet and bright We are growing day and night With the sun, up high we grow Vines and leaves spread out, like so We are blowing to and fro Growing day and night, you know We are fruits so sweet and bright We are growing day and night Without sun we cannot grow Without water, we droop low No more blowing to and fro Back down to the ground, we go To “5 Little Ducks” Five fruits & veggies rolling by Under the farmer’s watchful eye Say “Hi” to the orange, big and round Say “Hi” to the berries, on the ground Say “Hi” to the apple from the tree Say “Hi” to the lettuce and its leaves Say “Hi” to the onion that you see All 5 fruits & veggies, just for me 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 5 fruits and veggies rolling by Farmer, Farmer, what do you see? Farmer, Farmer, what do you see? I see a blueberry ready to eat Blueberry, blueberry, what do you see? I see a green broccoli ready to eat ….purple grape ….white onion ….yellow lemon … red apple ….orange orange ….hungry children Children, children, what do you see? We see a purple grape, a white onion, a yellow lemon, a red apple, and an orange orange, ready to eat. Angela Russ is a mother, artist, educational trainer, and award-winning producer of music for young children. She presents music & movement to child care providers and teachers nationwide, is a member of the Recording Academy, and is the sole owner of the Russ InVision record label. For more information on Angela, her workshops and accomplishments you are welcome to visit www.abridgeclub.com. © 2006, Russ InVision. All rights reserved.
	15 Creative Ways to Teach Young Children While Driving! Part 1 How much time do you spend in the car with your children? Think about the quality time you could be using to educate them while on the road. You can’t get that time back once it’s wasted. Whether on a short 15-minute trip or a 6-hour long drive to visit grandma, you can use these precious moments to rev up your young child’s listening, language, and literacy skills a notch. It is also one of the best times to engage them in conversation. Turn off the radio and the DVD player. Hang up the phone. Talk to your kids. Ask questions, listen to their concerns, offer them advice, play educational games, and teach. They will learn from experience, and so will you. Try one of these creative activities when you have children in the car who range from preschoolers to kids in early primary grades. Sing traditional lullabies or chant traditional rhymes. The “ABC” song can help a child learn the alphabet, "This Old Man" teaches counting. The repetition and rhyme helps young children learn to memorize through verse, and it is lullabies and rhymes like these that help children memorize basic grammatical structures and patterns in the English language. Make up your own silly songs, change the lyrics to well known lullabies or to traditional rhymes. “Old MacDonald had a frog...” “Jack and Jill hopped down the hill...” “Drive, drive, drive the car…” Children need to learn that they are free to be creative. Practice verbal sequencing. Name something you do every day and break it down into simple steps. You start with the first step, and everyone takes turn stating the next step. At the theater: “Walk to the counter, hand over the money, get the ticket, take the ticket, walk to the ticket taker…” Washing hands: “Turn on the water, wet your hands, pick up soap, scrub your hands, rinse your hands….” This helps children practice simple sentence structure. Take turns making up funny rhyming words. “Ooey, gooey, chewy, achooey…” No, they don’t have to make sense! Rhyme is important in developing phonemic (hearing) awareness in children. It helps children break down the sounds of a language into smaller units, which can lead to reading and writing success. Play "I Spy." - Look for colors, shapes, letters, numbers, and things. Visual games can help build a child's vocabulary! Assign each child a letter or number. They can put a hash mark on a piece of paper every time they see their letter or number on license plates or signs. Count and total on arrival. “A to Z” Game: Point out all the letters of the alphabet in order, from A to Z by finding words in the signs you pass. The simplified version is to use any letter that appears in a sign. For a challenge find words that start or end with the next letter. One letter per sign, and once you pass the sign, you can’t use it anymore. Q = Quality Cleaners, Z = Toyz and more. Play “20 Questions”: One person secretly thinks of an animal, food, or thing. The other passengers ask yes-or-no questions, such as "Can it fly?" or "Does it grow in the ground?" or “Is it green?” After 20 questions, everyone makes a guess. Q & A about books you’ve read or movies & TV shows you’ve recently seen. "Which character would you want be?" If you could fly, where would you go? Play “Would you rather be…” Ask silly questions and let everyone explain their answers. “Would you rather be a pet rat or a pet bird?” “Would you rather be a dragon or an airplane?” “Would you rather be a famous cook or a famous painter?” Children can still be captivated by the simple magic of telling a story. Tell it in the round. Everyone can add a little piece and the story can be as long as you want it to be. When kids have to create their own stories. Listen to an audio book together in the car. Listening to the story helps children paint pictures in their heads. No one’s glued to a screen or a cell phone, the whole family shares in a story that can be discussed afterward. More vocabulary building! Name words that start with each letter of the alphabet. A = apple, B= book, C = cat, etc. Continue the alphabet as far as you can, then start again using different words.. Phonics with license plates. Think of words and silly phrases using the letters on license plates. PYD 239 = “Pretty yellow dress.” 4XM 2B0 = “X-ray my 2 bones.” Set-up a reading station in the car so that your children can select a book to flip through or read at any time. If they are emergent readers, they can explain what they see. If they can read the story on their own, they can summarize it for you. Sharing the story with others will help them improve their comprehension. Angela Russ-Ayon is a mother of 2, as well as an educational trainer, award-winning children’s recording artist and author. She presents music & movement to teachers nationwide, is a member of the Recording Academy, and is sole owner of the Russ InVision record label. For permission to reprint this article or for information on Angela, her workshops or her titles, please visit www.abridgeclub.com. © 2011, Russ InVision. All rights reserved.
	Contact us for questions and information info@abridgeclub.com AbridgeClub.com is owned and operated by Russ InVision Company Russ InVision Records 3219 Conquista Ave, Long Beach, CA 90808 P: 562.421.1836 Fax: 562.420.9101