Hit! Pinch! Kick! Punch!
Wow! Bam! Pow! Slam!
Miss Carole
from Macaroni Soup here. What’s
happening in our classrooms? Why are
Kindergarteners getting into fist fights?
Why can a three year old go home with bite marks? What made that child so mad at me that they
roared with bared teeth 2 inches from my face?
Time Out
Everyone!
As an early
childhood music specialist, my time each day with a class is limited to 20 – 45
minutes most of the time. USUALLY we
sing, dance and learn without negative behavior. Chalk that up to the serotonin released during
active participation in music! But every
now and then, ZOWIE! Faster
than you can intervene a child body-slams a classmate into the floor! What was THAT for?
Many times it’s
exuberance. Sometimes it’s anger or frustration. I’m not a psychologist, and there are many
solutions to try. But that’s a subject
for another month. Today I’d like to
concentrate on how we can teach and model touching each other in appropriate
ways that feels good and positive with simple activities. I use
the phrase “gentle
hands”.
Then we can
start working with gentle touch with each other. My favorite ending to class is either of the spoken
pieces below. Pair the children with a
partner. As you can see, my parent/child
classes LOVE this activity! It’s more
than a tickle – and when done as a group, it’s also a chance to learn to stay
together as a group, listening to others as you draw on a partner’s back.
Criss Cross, Apple sauce
 |
| Cool breeze! |
SAY
DO
Criss
cross (draw X)
Applesauce (tap
shoulders)
Spiders
crawling up your back!
(walk fingers up
back)
Cool
breeze (blow on neck)
Tight
squeeze (hug)
And
now you’ve got the shivers!
(lightly
tickle person)
 |
| A circle and a dot! |
X MARKS THE
SAY DO
X marks the spot (make an “x” with your finger)
A circle and a dot! (make a circle, then dot the center)
The ants go marching up your back. (crawl fingers up back)
Rain falls down (tickle fingers from neck) downward)
Plants grow up! (drag
pointer finger up the spine)
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 GOTCHA! (pat shoulders alternately, then
hug from behind!)
Once your
students get good at this type of activity, start adding circle and partner
dances. These help children learn to hold
hands without squeezing, walk together without dragging, and clap hands with a
partner without hurting.
To hear the
above chants, please go to my Macaroni Soup! website’s Recordings page. Criss Cross, Applesauce is
on my “Sticky Bubble Gum” cd, and X Marks the Spot is on “Baloney!”
When I do
concerts, I often walk through the audience giving “high 5’s” to the kids in
the audience before the show. Should a
child wind-up by pulling the hand behind their head to give me a whopper
high-5, I quickly put my hand down and remind them “High 5’s should not
hurt. Let’s try that again!” It’s amazing how quickly they learn to use
those gentle hands!
Recently the
online community at The Children’s Music Network has been discussing the topic
of aggressive and negative behavior in the classroom. There are wonderful suggestions from teachers
all over the country – join CMN and access this tremendous online resource!
Okay!
I’ve kept it simple this month.
Let me know how it goes with the children in your care! I would also love to hear what kind of
interactive games, songs or chants you use for teaching appropriate touch!
Yours
for a Song!
Miss
Carole Stephens
Macaroni Soup! Active Music for Kids!
Oh - and this is the REAL Audrey -
she's as gentle and nice as they come!
she's as gentle and nice as they come!
Thank you so much for your post! I have been struggling in my class trying to teach "gentle hands". The boys just don't seem to get it. I can't wait to try these songs in my class and see how they react!!
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