Celebrate Summer

Inspiration, thoughts and recommendations from Mary Sue!

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Greetings!

It’s August! But there’s still time for some summertime fun, which often means reunions and family gatherings. This edition of Notes from the Heart is full of activity and song suggestions that can be enjoyed by family members of all ages – together.

As you read this I will be on my way to Iowa for a reunion with my cousins and my brother (here's a picture of us as kids - I'm the littlest), as well as a gathering with some of my high school friends that I haven’t seen in decades. (Yes, you read that right - decades!)

I hope you have had a wonderful summer!
Mary Sue

P.S. The other picture is of me visiting with my Uncle Dean, 93 years young.

Don't miss this month's features:

Sing a Song of Summer . . .

Songwriting to Skip to My Lou
Here’s a simple singing game that will encourage the little ones to skip and dance and give everyone, even elders who may have some dementia, an easy way to participate. Everyone can join in, simply by naming something that they like! Go around the room giving everyone a chance to contribute something they like. Repeat the original verse whenever you feel like it.

Start by singing the refrain

Skip, skip, skip to my Lou
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou
Skip to my Lou, my darling

Then using the same melody sing:
I like _______________ (fill in the blank)
How about you?
I like ____________________
How about you
I like _____________________
How about you?
Skip to my Lou, my darling

Piggy Back Songs: New Lyrics to Old, Familiar Melodies

Piggy back songs are a great way for older adults and little ones to connect through music. The older adults will know the nursery rhyme melodies and the little ones will enjoy the more current lyrics. Give these a try next time you have a mixed age group together.

The songs below come from www.preschooleducation.com
where you can find many more.

Sing a Song of Sunshine
(Sung to: "Sing a Song of Sixpence")
Sing a song of sunshine,
Be happy every day.
Sing a song of sunshine,
You'll chase the clouds away,
Be happy every moment,
No matter what you do,
Just sing and sing and sing
and sing
And let the sunshine through.

Scoop up Sand
(Sung to: "Ten Little Indians")
Scoop up sand and
put it in your bucket.
Scoop up sand and
put it in your bucket.
Scoop up sand and
put it in your bucket.
How much do you have?

My Bubbles Flew Over the Ocean
(Sung to: "My Bonnie lies Over the Ocean")
My Bubbles flew over the ocean
My Bubbles flew over the sea
My Bubbles flew over the rainbow.
Oh bring back my bubbles to me.
Bring back, Bring back,
Oh bring back, my bubbles to me
to me
Bring back, bring back,
Oh bring back my bubbles to me!

Click here for a printable version of this newsletter!

Summer Sand & Stones . . .

Kinetic Sand
What could be more “summer” than playing in the sand? With this recipe you can keep the sand play/therapy going all year long. The beauty of this sand is that it will hold a shape but won't stick to your fingers. For a little one, the learning and fine motor development that can come from playing in the sand is practically endless. For seniors, it may have been a very long time since they’ve been able to experience the feeling of sand. Ah…
Recipe:

5 cups sand
1 cup + 3 tablespoons corn starch
1/2 teaspoon dish soap
approx. 1 cup water (depending on how wet your sand is before mixing)
optional: 1 teaspoon Tea Tree Oil (for antibacterial properties)

Directions:

Put sand in a container
Add corn starch and mix thoroughly
Mix water & dish soap, then add to sand
Mix thoroughly
Store in a covered container

Story Stones
Wondering what to do with all of the stones your kids have collected this summer? You can create story stones by just adding images either with clip art and mod podge or by drawing free hand. Pull them out and relive memories that the picture brings to mind or create a story using several stones pulled in sequence.

These stones would also work well as discussion starters for seniors to jog their memories of favorite summertime activities.

Summertime Joke Alert!

(From www.grandparents.com American Grandparents Association)

Why is Cinderella so bad at sports? (Because she had a pumpkin for a coach.)

Why do bicycles fall over? (Because they’re two-tired.)

How does the ocean say hello? (It waves.)

Why did the sun go to school? (To get brighter.)

And my personal favorite…
Why did the cantaloupe jump into the lake? (It wanted to be a watermelon.)

Care Partner Resources

(Visit my website for more direct links to valuable resources.)

Teepa Snow (I have trained directly with Teepa and highly recommend her resources.)
www.teepasnow.com
Teepa is a nationally recognized dementia care specialist offering education and support through her Positive Approach to Care and her GEMSTM classification system. Teepa helps you learn how to provide the right care and the right environment so everyone can shine.

Alzheimer’s Association
www.alz.org
Comprehensive resources to support those living with Alzheimer’s and their care partners.

HelpGuide.org
www.helpguide.org
A trusted non-profit guide to mental health and well being with an extensive library of helpful articles related to Alzheimer’s/Dementia, Aging Well, Care giving and Senior Housing

Caring.Com
www.caring.com
This site includes online support groups, numerous articles about all levels of care, a health center featuring articles about Alzheimer’s and other dementias. You can sign up to receive free newsletters customized to your interests.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Weekly
www.alzheimersweekly.com
A weekly newsletter that includes support and insight including research articles, books and product information.

National Center for Creative Aging (One of my favorite resources)
www.creativeaging.org
Dedicated to fostering an understanding of the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging.

“Songs You Know By Heart”: 18 favorite songs from the Young at Heart Music Program. Classics such as You Are My Sunshine, I Got Rhythm, Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree, My Wild Irish Rose, Let Me Call You Sweetheart and many more. Listen or sing along!

“Ms. Tiyi’s Garden”: Original and traditional songs and stories

sure to please young children AND their parents. Action songs to move to, story songs to act out, silly songs to laugh with and Ms. Tiyi's original story and song with an important message "Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can break your heart." Appropriate for children 10 and under.

Click on CD image to redirect to the Young At Heart Music website store to make your purchase!

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Mary Sue Wilkinson is the founder of Singing Heart to Heart_TMand the Young at Heart Music Program. She is a career educator and professional musician. And she loves to sing! Her flagship program, Young at Heart Music, is devoted to bringing the joy of music and singing to seniors with decades of life experiences and memories tied to music. Mary Sue is available as a speaker sharing her expertise about the power of music to awaken memories and bring joy. Together with Tiyi Schippers, Mary Sue also provides music experiences for young children and trainingfor early childhood educators.

Contact Info:
www.youngatheartmusic.com
marysue@youngatheartmusic.com
Phone: 231.233.2948

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