[HANASHIR:16414] Early Childhood Developmentally Appropriate Practice

[Ellen Allard <ellen...>]

I'd like to cast another vote for the Dinosaur Song. Peter and I have
used it very successfully during Tot Shabbat services. It is one of
those magical songs that children love. And it is one of those magical
songs, that despite the fact that children know (or are learning) that
there are no dinosaurs living in our present world, they are still able
and willing to suspend reality and sing about a make-believe creature
spending Shabbat with them. And for those children who are still in the
"Are dinosaurs real?" stage, the song is a great tool for helping them
make sense of what is and is not real. Remember the Maurice Sendak book
"Where the Wild Things Are"? How many of us read that book to our young
children? How many of us have children who, despite their fear of
monsters, gobbled that book up because it helped them sort through their
feelings and begin to understand what was or wasn't real? And those of
you who have studied early childhood education know that helping
children make sense of their world is VERY important.

It is simply astonishing to me that synagogues ask people with no
background in early childhood education (and that includes clergy as
well as lay leaders) to lead services for young children. All of us who
work with children have an obligation to learn what works and what
doesn't work with children. Yes, having been a parent helps. But it is
not enough. We owe the children with whom we work more than that. If you
are leading services for young children, I would like to suggest that
you either take an early childhood education class, or at the very
least, read some books that will help you learn about the developmental
needs, stages etc. of young children. Frankly, it is a shonda (okay,
Mom, where are you? Help me out with the spelling?) that anyone is put
into a teaching or lay leader position without the proper training. Even
one class on the developmental needs of young children would be better
than none. 

This also raises an issue regarding the amount of time allotted for
Shabbat services for young children. Peter and I have led numerous
workshops on how to develop, lead, etc. Tot Shabbat services. Most of
the people who attend our workshops tell us that their synagogues have
15 - 30 minute services, and many of the people who lead the services
couldn't imagine doing a service any longer than that. Hogwash! If you
understand early childhood, if you pay attention to the developmental
needs of young children, if you understand that within your group of
young children you will have numerous styles of learning (some children
learn best by listening, some by moving, some learn best with visual
cues), you will then begin to have an idea about sequencing your service
to meet the needs of all of the young children who have come to pray
with you. Doing an hour is a piece of cake! You will be able to fit all
the basics (or whatever you consider most important) into the service,
AND you will have time for lots more, from fun dinosaur songs to
interactive stories to mini-bibliodramas to reading picture books. 

And by the way, I totally understand that many don't make the decisions
about how much time is allotted for Tot Shabbat services. And I ask why
not? Who is better able to make these decisions than the very person who
studies, prepares, and leads these services? Who better to advocate for
the young children in your congregation? If you are adequately prepared,
if you do your homework, if you create exciting, developmentally
appropriate services, then you should have a say in the length of your
service. The decision shouldn't be made based simply on how long the
room is available, or some other arbitrary reason, but rather on WHAT IS
BEST FOR THE CHILDREN!!!

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox. To conclude, please don't dismiss a song
because you think it is silly. First learn about what best suits the
needs of your young congregants, then figure out how you will meet those
needs.

All the best,
Ellen (and Peter)
-----
Peter & Ellen Allard
Specializing in Music for Young Children
*******************************
For information on our award-winning recordings, children's concerts,
and teacher workshops/keynotes, please visit
http://www.PeterandEllen.com
or call tollfree 1-888-746-4481
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Boyd Leon [mailto:cbleon (at) hotmail(dot)com] 
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2003 8:47 PM
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Subject: [HANASHIR:16394] Re: dinosaur song

It turns out that I DO include Doug's "Thank You God" in each of my Tot 
Shabbat services, but it's got a much different feel and mood than the 
dinosaur song.  In fact, I manage to include 3 songs which all at least 
mention candles-wine-challah as I feel those are important Shabbat 
associations for tots to make and repetition, particularly for young 
children, is very valuable.

I start with my "Shalom Shabbat Shalom" so kids get practice reciting
the 3 
blessings in their entirety (which otherwise they wouldn't get to do
because 
most of my Tot Shabbat services are on Saturday mornings), we sing
Doug's 
"Thank You God" near the end of the service as a time to cuddle-up with 
parents and give thanks to God for the many blessings in our lives, and
we 
sing "The Dinosaur Song" during the oneg Shabbat when it's time to
simply 
have fun.  Plus the service includes many of the "basics" -- Bar'chu,
Sh'ma, 
Mi Chamocha, Oseh Shalom, Torah songs, etc.  No problem fitting 'em all
in.

-- Carol
Carol Boyd Leon
Songwriter/Songleader/Music Educator
CBLeon (at) hotmail(dot)com
www.geocities/com/CBoydLeon

... I think we need to consider how much time we have with these kids
and 
consider whether there are better song choices to accomplish the same
goals 
for what we're teaching.  Doug Cotler's "Thank you God" would fulfill
the 
content needs that the dinosaur seems to be being used for.  I would use

that instead personally.
Abby

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