What do you think motivates parents and carers or other practitioners to join in? What might the barriers be? How could you overcome these? Add your own tips to the discussion board. by Raising Literacy Australia

2024-06-05 06:35:58 UTC

I feel embarrassment would play a key role as a barrier. By making music fun, singing loud and out of tune, dancing around and being silly as a practitioner, would hopefully help parents to feel comfortable in joining in.

2024-07-08 04:38:43 UTC

When I was studying early childhood education, I was told by a visiting university supervisor not to sing to children because I was out of tune and it was confusing the children. This was in my first preschool placement, and that feedback/advice has stayed with me for decades. I know I can use recorded music, but I always wanted to use my voice as it was more relational and interactive. I always sang to my children when they were young, making up silly songs and playing with patterns, rhythm and words... but I still have that piece of advice living rent free in my head. Hearing the advice in this module about singing to children regardless of your ability has been a welcome positive sign...thank you so much for this message!

2024-08-26 02:32:34 UTC

One of the things I always try and do in story time is embrace my mistakes rather than correct and be "sorry I did it wrong." I try and make the slip up on words or tune part of the song for the day, so that the adults attending can see that even someone who's job involves singing these songs regularly still makes mistakes and it's okay.

2024-08-28 00:33:00 UTC

I always leave a little bit of time towards the end of the session to get the kids or parents to request their favourite song or one we haven't sung that morning. It allows for parent contribution if I don't know the words or tune and the kids love being able to choose what songs we sing next instead of being prompted from a set list all morning. I've had parents tell me they don't know the words or they don't sing well enough to sing out loud in public and I always say to them that they come in and have me hit bum notes, be occasionally out of tune or completely forget words mid song and they cannot do any worse than me. I make sure to tell them their kids don't care, they're just happy to be singing with mum or dad or grandparents or whoever has brought them in, it usually works well and I have a solid percentage of the group singing along with me.

2024-10-03 05:09:11 UTC

Singing and rhymes are the glue the holds the storytime sessions together. Either based on a theme or repeating old familiar tunes. I have started asking the parents to sing the Rainbow song with me to their children. At first there is a little stage fright on the second round everyone joins in with colourful scarves and laughter.

2025-01-06 21:58:43 UTC

Feeling awkard or judged is a barrier, so building a safe place is important where no one feels they will be humiliated if they join in.

2025-01-21 05:54:56 UTC

Fear is definitely a factor as a lack of singing, fear of looking silly, sounding awful, doing it wrong. I for one am a terrible singer, as someone married to someone who is a musician I can often get embarrassed to sing around him, but as I say to my families 'Just because you think you can't sing, doesn't mean you shouldn't sing' I model and sing every single day with my families and my own, laughing as I go, dance along too. The more you do it with kids and parents see the joy they start joining in too eventually, even if it's just with a wiggle and a smile to share the joy

2025-03-05 03:42:51 UTC

Knowing the songs and familiarity with other parents present encourages parents to join in. I always prompt my parents to join in because your kids will enjoy it more and everyone can hear me less! This usually prompts a laugh and I've had chats with parents about how it takes the pressure off to have a good tune.