One thought from me:

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When I first started taking my kids outside more intentionally, something interesting happened.

All of a sudden I started to see ordinary moments—the kids playing with autumn leaves after church, a clear morning at the beach, dinner on a picnic rug under the stars—for the extraordinary moments they were.
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I started to notice opportunities for connecting with my children in the natural world all around me. It was as if my eyes were open to something I hadn't realised was there all along.

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I had a similar 'a-ha' moment this week when we met with Music Therapist Alexandra Morse for our online class, Music in Early Childhood.

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Before the class, I thought making space for music in my children's day meant singing songs in the bath, or bringing the clapping sticks and shakers to playgroup, or putting music on in the kitchen right before dinner.

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But Alex explained that while yes, those were all valuable experiences of music for our children. Music was actually already part of much of what we do.

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It's music when we are having a quiet day at home and our three-year-old is running through the garden singing songs he has made up.

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It's music when we pat our toddler's back as they lie in bed, and the repeated rhythm helps them to come into that place of calm and stillness before sleep.

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It's music when we 'ooh' and 'ahh' at a new baby, and, when they coo back at us, we are engaged in one of their first conversations. For babies, Alex reminded us, first conversations are sung, not spoken.

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Music is already all around us. As parents it's not another thing we have to fit into our children's lives. it's already there.

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All we need to do is slow down and notice it and then, together with our children, enjoy it for the wonderful gift that it is.

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A quote from someone else:

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We are all musical.

We are all more musical than we think.

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- Alexandra Morse, Music and Early Childhood - An Our Year Outdoors Online Class​

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And a few things I think you will love:

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1. One of the most helpful things Alex shared in our class this week was about how we can use music to help support our child's emotional regulation. This is, surprisingly, something we all already do. When we sing lullabies and rock our babies or when we pat toddlers off to sleep. Alex also shared that we could use the strategy with older children too. I loved how in the Q&A she suggested matching our child's mood with music, singing an angry song to give language to the experience of being angry or frustrated.

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2. I make it a habit of putting music on before the TV. If your child has a bit of space to move, some dress ups and some music they love listening to, it will often keep them busy for long enough for you to fold washing or cook dinner. The best thing about music play as a 'quiet activity' is that our children are still moving their bodies while they engage in it, rather than sitting still, which they are more likely to do in front of a screen.

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3. I loved all your Christmas picture book recommendations last week, here are three beautiful ones you loved.

• ​The Nativity- By Julie Vivas
• ​Alfie's Christmas- By Shirley Hughes
• ​Wombat Divine- by Mem Fox and Kerry Argent

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If you know someone who you think would love this months free class, they can find it here.

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I'm grateful for you,

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Hannah Alexander

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Each week, I share 1. A thought from me,

2. A quote from someone else and 3. Some things I hope you'll like.

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