The other day I was doing music & movement with one of my preschool music classes. I love to sing a song called “Why Witch?” I did not write this particular song, but I enjoy singing it to the children. Before I sing the song I always ask them, “Why do you think witches fly on brooms when they could simply drive in a car?” The responses I get are

As the owner of Fern’s Music / Fern Forest Enterprises, www.FernsMusicForKids.com, I have the privilege of doing many things including, teaching preschool music classes, teaching private piano lessons and performing full concerts for preschool children where I go onstage with my costume character friend, Charlie the Chipmunk. As a result I observe a lot of special moments in the lives of children. The other day I was working with a

The “Listening Chair” I’m sure many people have heard of the “talking stick”, but have you heard about the “listening chair?” All children with siblings get into disagreements at one time or another. Sometimes these disagreements can turn into major arguments or actual hitting, scratching, biting or kicking brawls. Parents soon find themselves in the middle of the action and become mediators. This is a very common problem for parents

Have you ever heard of the idea of a “talking stick?” I heard about this when my children were young and decided to try it. A “talking stick” prevents a person from being interrupted or overlooked during a discussion. When a family meeting is taking place at the kitchen table, living room, or wherever–the “talking stick” is handed to the person who is talking. (This “talking stick” can actually be

I have been asked by many people, “How do you get an entire group of active, busy preschoolers to listen to you?” Or, on a simpler note, “How do you get your own preschooler to listen to you?” The answer is the same. I don’t yell. I have discovered in my years of working with children that the more you yell, the more children “tune you out.” Quite frankly, that