My friend, Rahel, send me information about a new study that shows the healing properties of music. A new initiative called "Sound Health" hopes to provide scientifically-based rather than just anecdotal evidence of that.  Here are few of the findings about children's music engagement from https://cms.kennedy-center.org/series/sound-health-home/music-and-wellness:

"In recent years, scientific research has been catching up to the anecdotal evidence. The upshot is that researchers are proving the social, psychological, intellectual, and physical benefits of musical engagement. Among them, we have learned that music training…

• increases blood flow to the brain and helps develop new neural pathways.
• promotes physical coordination and fine-motor skills.
• bolsters concentration, memory, and recall.
• fortifies the brain’s executive function that manages critical tasks like
  controlling behavior, processing information, and solving problems.
• reduces stress and anxiety, boosts mood, and eases depression.
• builds social bonds and interpersonal skills.
• helps the brain recover from stroke and brain injury; music therapy has
  even been shown to reduce the need for drugs in pain management.
• strengthens language and reading skills."

Here's an article that claims without Mother Goose nursery rhymes, a child may never acquire appropriate appetite or aptitude for works that plumb the depths of reality.

https://shar.es/amrxQb    

Letters from Readers

Finding Mindfulness in Mother Goose

I found Mother Goose on the Loose in Boston at Simmons College about ten years ago. Betsy was there. She taught me everything about the program. Which was exactly what I needed. You see, I was a children’s programmer. Which meant I planned, and presented anywhere from 8 to 10 early literacy storytimes a week! Which was a lot. But I only worked 12 hours a week which, when you think about it, made this undertaking close to impossible. I did it, however. I became super streamlined, super organized, and super focused, all the while relishing my love for giving storytime experiences to families. I was a seasoned presenter prior to this gig, but it was during this particular career pursuit that I really became an expert.

Learning from Betsy the science and practicality of her MGOL system, and understanding that within the huge white binder, I had the tools to explore countless combinations of a proven successful early literacy program was transforming. All I had to do was learn it and do it. I dove right in. I took the materials and spent the next two years honing it and crafting my ability to make it automatically authentic. Then, I got a new job as Head of Children’s and Teen Services. Full-time: supervising, planning, meetings, grants, staff development - in charge of everything that makes a vibrant children’s and teen services department run.

When I transitioned to full time work, I discovered in my personal life the practice of “mindful meditation”. I sought readings, went on retreats, and developed a daily meditation practice. I studied and continue to study the teachings of Jon Kabat-Zinn, Pema Chodron and Thich Nhat Hanh.

Mindfulness has become my new way of living.

Last fall 2017, I presented my last MGOL before taking a year-long break. We were expecting the arrival of a 1500 square foot exhibit on the floor of the children’s library and I needed to delegate the programming in order to be fully available to manage this huge endeavor.

For 1 year, my monkey kisses, my mother goose goose, my Mr. Perky Bird, my rum pum pum tambourine, sat. For 1 year, I wondered what it would be like to return to the MGOL material. For 1 year, I listened to my responses to these inner musings: Would I hate it? Would it feel old? Will I like it as much? Maybe I should try something new! I heard myself saying, Come on Kari Ann, you’ve been doing the same thing since BOSTON! But let’s be real. Meetings, planning, supervising, solving problems, and nurturing staff - time for development of something new would not be plentiful. I kept hearing myself say: NO TIME. And that phrase sounded familiar. Often, when I tell people about my meditation practice, they say that same phrase about their own quest for inner peace: NO TIME.

I learned from Jon Kabat-Zinn that when NO TIME is the obstacle, life becomes our meditation practice. So I took his teaching, Life Becomes Our Meditation Practice and merged it with MGOL. MGOL would become my new mindful meditation practice. Here is what happened, as related to Betsy this past January when she wrote in her newsletter asking for folks to participate in her survey:

What I work on every day while presenting your class - is mindful presenting. I have found that although we can practice and gain expertise and be as great as we can, when we fail to be in the moment, we give away that bit of life. Through my own life practice of meditation and mindfulness, I have sharpened my breathing and presence, and now when I give Monkey Kisses, I am in line with the moment, and that sense of balance is transferred to the child and caregiver. It is magical. It is real. It is not just going through the ropes. I love presenting your class! And now, with a mindful presence, I wish I could do it every day. I do not seek to gain more and more, just to BE there....in that moment and show parents what it feels like.

Thank you for your listening.

 

Kari Ann St. Jean

Children’s and Teen Services Manager

Avon Free Public Library, CT

kstjean@avonctlibrary.info

  Here is a wonderful post about the satisfaction we feel when helping a child feel safe and cared for.. 

Before a Child Can Learn They Need to Feel Safe and Cared For