The Power of Music
Children and babies gain so much from listening to familiar songs and rhymes. If sung to regularly, it doesn't take long for babies/toddlers to gain an understanding of rhythms, actions, sounds, tempo, and they will quickly learn lots of new words. It also helps to create a wonderful bond and special time for parent and child, and I love being part of that special journey when running my music sessions. Many children feel much calmer when sung to or when gentle music is played.
Over the many years I’ve had working with children and also when with my own children, I have been particularly struck by how much music and singing helps develop speech and language, and indeed confidence. I've experienced how important it is for children to regularly hear new songs and rhythms and how beneficial it is to experiment with a variety of instruments.
I always love creating new songs and rhymes and coming up with new ideas and ways to inspire children and those working with children. Toddlers are fabulous at creating their own songs and I love helping to give them the space to develop their ideas. Over the years my own kids have enjoyed helping me think up new ideas and lyrics for Bears In The Park songs. We've had lots of fun.
Bear it all began!
When I went back to teaching after having my second child, I found it very hard being away from my kids for such long hours. I felt very torn and a little exhausted! I knew I wanted to carry on working with children, but I needed to find something that meant I could be around more for my own family.
So, after lots of thought, I decided to leave my permanent teaching role and started supply teaching. This then gave me much more flexibility (and huge amounts of experience) and meant I could also try creating an Early Years music group. It seemed like a perfect way to utilise my teaching skills, love of music and to be able to pick up my children after school. I love teaching, but the work load is immense and you never get to finish work at 3:30, like some people think.
I first started running music session in North London, in the lovely Priory Park in Crouch End - where my kids were born and where I grew up. The owners of the cafe there were so lovely and they encouraged me to start a class there. I ran sessions inside in the winter and outside in the summer. The owners were so kind and encouraging and I still really appreciate the support and belief they gave me and also the North London parents/cares who came to my classes in those early days.
I wanted to create music sessions that felt exciting and new. Where the children could grow and develop a love a music and creative learning. I wanted the children to arrive at a session and instantly feel comfortable, relaxed and inspired, and that’s where the teddy bear theme began. How lovely, I thought, to sit and cuddle a bear while singing some of your favourite songs. I loved teddy bears as a child, so it seemed the perfect theme!
My mum (who was also a primary school teacher and is a very talented artist), creates the wonderful seasonal ‘Bears In The Park’ banners. The bears and banners are now a huge part of the singing sessions and I'd feel lost without them. I once had a little boy who had been coming every week for some time, tell me I should have the sunshine banner up if it's sunny, not the winter one! This really made me smile! I loved the fact that he had got to know all the different banners and when they should be used. (It was still winter, but it was a very sunny day!)
In the summer of 2019, I moved from North London to Cornwall with my family. It was a big move, but one we had been thinking about for a while. Cornwall has always been a very special place to us so it felt right. Then just as we had begun to feel settled, the pandemic hit and we were in lockdown. I then started to do some live sessions for a while, which were really good fun and gave us a good focus at home and way to connect with people. I called them ‘Bears In My Living Room’.
Over the past few years, and since things have got a back to normal, I’ve started running sessions in venues and nurseries again. So far, in the summer months I have run sessions in the beautiful Penlee Park Open Air Theatre, Penzance and in the Autumn/Winter at the magical Acorn Theatre, Penzance. I hope to explore some more venues, locations and parks soon too.
I also enjoy sharing videos on my YouTube channel and plan to host some more online sessions, plus I need to record my bears album! There is lots to do and things to develop!
It's all very exciting.
Jade xx
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Bears In The Park
