Amy Thomas | Upstate Music Therapy Center LLC

Back-to-School: 5 Songs to Overcome the Transition

by Amy Thomas | Aug 26, 2021

We’KeepBlog post written by: Katie Pistilli.

Going back to school after summer break can be quite the transition! With the sun setting so late, your child probably isn’t used to going to bed when they need to. The routines of school day mornings may feel like a struggle at first. Transitions are hard for us all! If your kids have a hard time with back-to-school routines, try singing some of these songs with them. They can be sung to familiar nursery rhymes; you’ll catch on quick!

Back-to-School

Help your kids learn that September means they go back to school! There are a lot of positives to going back to school like making new friends and learning. This song is a great one to sing while walking to the bus or getting in the car.

Sung to the tune of Over the River and Through the Woods

Late in the summer, before the fall,

It’s back to school we go!

We get on the bus, which carries us,

To a building we all know!

Late in the summer, before the fall,

To class we all return.

Vacation was fun but now it’s done,

And now it’s time to learn!

Getting to Bed

If your kids are old enough to understand time, they can begin to learn that when the clock says it’s bedtime it means they have to start getting ready. Sing this song about bedtime to help them become familiar with the concept. Feel free to change the bedtime below to accommodate your family’s routine!

Sung to the tune of “The Muffin Man”

Do you know what time it is?

What time it is? What time it is?

Do you know what time it is?

When we head to bed.

Yes, we sleep at 8 o’clock, at 8 o’clock, at 8 o’clock

Yes, we sleep at 8 o’clock

It’s time for bed.

Brushing Teeth

Brushing teeth isn’t always the most fun or comfortable experience, but establishing good dental hygiene at a young age is essential! If your child is reluctant to brush their teeth in sleepy early mornings, try singing this song with them. It’s good to be silly and show them that our routines can be fun!

Sung to the tune of Old McDonald

Yes I have a pretty smile

Ee – I – ee – I – Oo

I brush my teeth to keep them bright

Ee – I – ee – I – Oo

With a wiggle, jiggle here, and a wiggle, jiggle there

Here a wiggle, there a jiggle

Everywhere a wiggle jiggle

Oh, what fun to brush our teeth

Ee – I – ee – I – Oo

Getting Dressed (for Bedtime or School)

While it might elongate the process, this song encourages a little bit of dancing and laughing to make getting dressed fly by. You and your child will have a blast the PJ Pokey. Be careful, it’s easy to get tangled up and dizzy with this one!

Sung to the tune of The Hokey Pokey

You put your right sleeve in,

You put your right sleeve out,

You put your right sleeve in,

And you shake it all about.

You do the P.J. pokey and you turn yourself around

That’s what it’s all about.

(Clap-clap!)

Additional verses: left sleeve, right leg, left leg, socks

Packing a Lunch

An exciting part about going back to school is being able to eat lunch with friends in the cafeteria. Encourage your child to help pack their lunch by substituting their foods into this song. “My Lunch Box” is an ideal tune for older kids in elementary school who will find the humor in splitting words up by syllables.

Sung to the tune of “Yankee Doodle”

My lunch box holds some yummy treats.

Which food is my favorite?

It starts with sand and ends with wich.

A sandwich! I can’t wait to eat it!

My lunchbox holds some yummy drinks.

Which drink is my favorite?

It starts with “m” and ends with ilk.

My milk! I can’t wait to drink it!

My lunch box holds some yummy treats.

Which food is my favorite?

It starts with “ch” and ends with ips.

Some chips! I can’t wait to eat them.

My lunch box holds some yummy treats.

Which food is my favorite?

It starts with cook and ends with ies.

Some cookies! I can’t wait to eat them.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of back-to-school. Thankfully, music has a way of bringing us into the moment, reminding us to enjoy the little things and be present where we are. We hope that some of these songs will ease your family’s back-to-school transition. At the very least, maybe your family will get a laugh or two.

Keep these songs handy, so you can easily add them to your morning and evening routines! We’ve created a free printable of these back-to-school songs for you to hang up somewhere in your home.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SONG SHEET

Enhancing Lives Through Music Services

by Amy Thomas | Oct 18, 2020

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by Amy Thomas | Oct 11, 2020

The therapists from our agency have had the pleasure of working with amazing children and families over the years. Some of the most special relationships we have developed and cherished have been with families of children with Down Syndrome. As certified therapists,...

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by Amy Thomas | Sep 18, 2020

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Sensory Safe Mindfulness

by Amy Thomas | Aug 24, 2021

lik.We hope you have been enjoying our Summer 2021 Mindfulness Blog Series. In this last blog on the topic of mindfulness we want to provide practical ways to apply mindfulness safely. Because each person needs and prefers different ways to slow down the mind and notice the most present surroundings and circumstances, having a variety of options to consider is one way to allow a custom plan to be created.

If you are not working with a mental health professional but are realizing as you read these blogs that you might be struggling with depression, anxiety, or a past trauma, you will want to steer away from the mindfulness exercises that are more introspective and require closing your eyes. If you have not already read our third blog of the series, Mindfulness Through a Trauma Informed Lens, we highly recommend you do. Below is a list of wonderful safe opportunities to practice mindfulness with great results.

Sensory Based Mindfulness

Seeking opportunities to smell, taste, feel, and listen in a pursuit of noticing the environment around you with an increased awareness.

Ice Cream Mindfulness – The summer is a perfect time for this appetizing mindfulness activity. Once you have your dish or cone of ice cream find a space that is quiet and free of distraction. Notice how it looks right after it was served and how it changes as you move through the exercise. Does the shape remind you of anything? Can you smell the ice cream? Is it melting quickly or slowly? How does it feel on your tongue and how long will it stay there until it melts away? What do you notice as you’re swallowing this cool treat? Slow down and notice. You may realize something new about this common experience or you may simply appreciate the space you created for yourself to stay present while enjoying it.

Music & Coloring Mindfulness – Music plays a huge role in our day-to-day routines. Some begin their day with a morning alarm that plays one of their favorite songs or stations. In the car on the way to work or an activity a radio station is selected, or a favorite playlist is streaming. Perhaps kid’s songs are a necessity to keep the young one’s content. Let’s not forget the
weeknight or weekend concerts and musical entertainments. We’ve linked a mindfulness music playlist link below as well as a coloring PDF. Resources like these provide you with a unique opportunity to notice the nuances within the music as you add color to the mandala coloring page. What colors are you choosing as you listen? How do the sounds make you feel or what do they make you think of? Do your color choices change along with the changes in the music? Where in your body are you feeling the music the most?

Download this free mandala coloring sheet by clicking on the photo to the right. You can find other free coloring pages by clicking here.

Nature Walk Mindfulness – Over the years many have shared with us that nature is where they find the least distractions and notice feeling most calm. This might be a hiking trail, an open park with trees and benches, at a cottage, or near a lake or ocean. Regardless of the destination it is a cherished place. As you move through this location take moments to pause and listen. Make a mental note of all the things you can hear. Look around you and name 5 things that you can see and then select the one that is the most attractive to you. Take in a breath through your nose and exhale through your mouth. What are the scents around you? Have you smelled them before? Are there any memories attached to those smells? Are their textures that you can explore with your hands or feet? As you experience this space use all the senses to notice and appreciate the opportunity to enjoy and stay present.

Staying present can be hard for the overactive mind. While trying these sensory activities be patient with yourself. When thoughts enter your mind that are unrelated to this mindfulness exercise, without judgement, excuse that thought and resume your mindfulness activity.

We hope you have enjoyed this fourth and final blog of our four-part Summer 2021 Mindfulness Blog Series and would love to hear from you regarding other topics you are interested in learning more about. Contact us if you’re interested in learning more about our mental health, creative arts, and music therapy services.

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Book: The Night Before Summer Vacation

by Amy Thomas | Aug 17, 2021

Written & submitted by Kayla Davitt, MT-BC

Excitement. Anticipation. Thoughts of the beach, the sand, and the sun. I can remember when I was younger how excited I would be on the night before a summer vacation trip – I wouldn’t be able to sleep! For many years, my family would take weeklong summer vacations to different spots on the east coast: Myrtle Beach, Williamsburg, and the Outer Banks (to name a few). The night before getting on the road was almost always filled with chaos: last minute packing, laundry, loading the car, and going through checklists, much like the characters in Natasha Wing’s The Night Before Summer Vacation.

Many of us are familiar with the classic Christmas tale ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. The classic tale describes the excitement and joy a child feels the night before opening presents and spending time with family. Natasha Wing altered the common tale for children to identify with another exciting event – a summer vacation! There is a song that goes with the classic tale and the tune can easily be sung with the words from the summer vacation story. The whimsical illustrations by Julie Durrell in this storybook capture the innocence of a child excited about what is to come in the days ahead.

Even though I don’t have kids of my own, I can only imagine how stressful and chaotic the night before summer vacation can be! I can remember my parents being worried that chores and packing were not going to get done before we had to leave early the next morning. One of my cousins has three kids and she would make travel packs for her kids for the 16-hour drive to North Carolina’s Outer Banks. These packs would include games, coloring books, colored pencils or crayons, notebooks, and little games for the kids to play in the car. If you’re looking to do something similar, here are some fun ideas from The Joys of Boys Blog!

When reading this story with your child, ask them how they would feel on the night before a summer vacation. Maybe make a checklist of items to pack, movies to watch, and games to play in the car. One of my favorite parts of preparing for a road trip was picking songs and CDs to listen to in the car! Check out our blog from earlier this month for fun ways to incorporate music into your road trip!

We hope you enjoy reading this storybook with your children this summer! If you wish to purchase this book on Amazon, you can do so here.

Happy reading!

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Mindfulness Through a Trauma Informed Lens

by Amy Thomas | Aug 10, 2021

In Part 2 of our Summer 2021 Mindfulness Blog Series, we focused on the first three of six important considerations when beginning mindfulness and its safety for everyone. Today we will explore the last three of six, to share our view of the best way to practice mindfulness and identify any safety concerns for you, your child, or loved one.

It is important to note that 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. That’s 223.4 million people. When considering this high percentage, we always want to err on the side of caution when asking people to close their eyes and invite them to imagine, see visualizations, or even left to just notice the silence.

Is mindfulness a safe practice for everyone? These final considerations are the most critical when leading a mindfulness group or encouraging an individual to begin using mindfulness practices.

Group presentations of mindfulness should be conducted very carefully

Many teens share with us that they have been required to participate in mindfulness in one or more of their classes at school. Some mention that they have felt panicked doing everything in their power to escape the room or be sick the days of those classes.
Some have grown to think of mindfulness as something that is not for them. Frequently this is because it was not tailored to their needs. Instead, they associate it with a large group of people in a room closing their eyes required to listen to sounds, music, a script, or silence, which is a very narrow understanding of the practice.

Individuals who have experienced past or recent trauma should participate with caution.

It is highly recommended that a professional work with adults or children who have experienced trauma to help them find the right type of mindfulness activities. Most of the time the activities will not include closing eyes or open meditation initially, but instead will work more on sensory mindfulness. We will share more about this in Part 4 of our series.
A professional will often assist an individual in finding their calm place with evidence that they able to successfully visualize and stay in this place without their mind wandering. This can be a very powerful mindfulness tool when properly created and practiced. The trained leader will also be sure that the individual is not experiencing any forms of dissociation prior to teaching these methods.

Every person needs to remain within their window of tolerance.

Earlier we mentioned that clients have shared with us that they left a mindfulness group activity in a panic. This is an example of someone being drawn out of their window of tolerance without assistance provided to help them find their way back. No one would create this situation on purpose; however, it can be a direct result of opening mindfulness in a group forum without contingencies for individuals to opt out if necessary.
The window of tolerance is a term commonly used in trauma counseling. It describes the zone of arousal in which a person can function effectively. An individual can feel upset, anxious, or scared, but still be able to function and not be completely highjacked by their emotions. If an individual has not been taught the tools to tolerate distress, there is a good possibility that they may struggle with general mindfulness.

Using a trauma informed lens is imperative when teaching mindfulness however this is not always used by mindfulness leaders. It is our hope that this blog series will help to spread the word to bring higher levels of safety and success to teaching mindfulness practices.

We look forward to sharing our final blog soon of our four-part Summer 2021 Mindfulness Blog Series and hope you will join us.

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Music: The Key to Road Trip Survival

by Amy Thomas | Aug 3, 2021

Blog post written by: Katie Pistilli.

Picture this: It’s the summer after a pandemic and your family is getting ready to road trip. The only problem is that your kids aren’t used to being in the car like they were a couple of years ago. Maybe since pre-covid times your family has grown, and you have a toddler who has never taken a road trip. Whatever your situation, times have changed for us all. Given all the change around us one fact remains true: music is the secret to road trip success. Whether it’s a 2-hour day trip or 10-hour adventure, here are some ideas for musical activities in the car.

It’s All About Movement

Kids will always find a way to move, so you might as well make it musical! Artists like Laurie Berkener and Hap Palmer write music meant to get your kids smiling and dancing. Using music that prompts certain movements and activity can make the time pass faster. Not all songs are meant to be used in the car, but we identified a couple with movements that can be done from the backseat!

Most of Laurie Berkener’s The Goldfish Song can be done from a car seat. In this song, little goldfish are told to take naps in between all of their activities. Pull it up on your phone and see what your kids think. Maybe they will even fall asleep! One of our therapists has recorded her own version of the song for you to enjoy.

Try out Hap Palmer’s Sally the Swinging Snake. This silly song is bound to get some laughs out of your kids. It involves taking a sock off and pretending it is a snake!

Play a Game

Do you remember doing the Freeze Dance when you were a kid? Throw on a familiar pop song like Can’t Stop the Feeling or Best Day of My Life and encourage your kids to dance along. Build some suspense, then surprise them by stopping when they least expect it! Bring back the tunes when you’re ready, or maybe give your kids a turn if they are able. If you have small instruments like shakers or jingle bells, the freeze dance game is a great opportunity to play them.

Before you leave for your trip, make a playlist of your kid’s favorite songs to play a Guess that Song game. Start a song halfway through, and have the passengers in the car take turns guessing what song is playing. It’s like Jeopardy, but with music. Consider catering the song to the person. If Dad is guessing, pick a song he might know. If an older sibling is guessing, give them something they might like. To make it more challenging, have different members of the family guess songs that were already played for someone else. Maybe they will start to learn the favorite music of the adults in their lives!

For Older Kids or Teens

Have you ever shown your pre-teens or teenagers the music you liked when you were their age? If you have a teen in the car, take turns showing each other songs. You might be surprised to hear them singing along to a song that came out 15 years before they were born! Talking about music or reminiscing about the past with songs is a great way to connect. Maybe your teen will get a kick out of learning that cool new song they like is actually a remake from when you were their age!

Are We There Yet?

Before tablets and smartphones, kids played all kinds of road trip games and sang along to whatever was on the radio or in the CD player. Use that smartphone to your advantage, and bring your family together by streaming music, dance videos, playing games, and sharing songs. When kids are singing along and dancing to the music, they aren’t thinking “are we there yet?”. Soak up the sun this summer and all music has to offer to make your road trip fun!

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