Happy Mother’s Day! These are our two sons. I’m spending Mother’s Day with them this year! It’s a blessing to have family who love and care for each other.
With many types of families in our schools, how will you celebrate Mother’s Day? Here in the US, we’ll celebrate Mother’s Day on May 12th.
Here are some songs that your young learners can share with moms, grandmas, or that significant person in their lives.
- This first song is perfect for babies through toddlers. To be honest, even my 4-6 year olds still like it.
Peek-A-Boo
by Kathy Kampa, melody based on Skip to my Lou
Hold onto the corners of a scarf. Cover your face.
When you sing “boo,” drop the scarf down. Hug.
Peek-a-boo, I see you!
Peek-a-boo, I see you!
Peek-a-boo, I see you!
Here’s a hug ’cause I love you.
Here’s a video demonstrating how to do this. I really love using juggling scarves for this song.
2. I shared “I Love You” earlier this year, but it’s a perfect song for Mother’s Day. Children might rock from side to side, hold a stuffed animal, or even get a hug. They can sing it for their mom, grandma, or caregiver.
For parents at home, this is a lovely lullaby to sing before your child falls asleep. When our two sons were little boys, we loved to snuggle up and sing lullabies to them.
Here are the lyrics to my song:
I Love You!
a calming song by Kathy Kampa (Copyright © 2024 Kathleen A. Kampa)
I love you, I really, really do! I love you.
I love you, I really, really do! I love you.
I love you in the morning,
I love you at night,
I love you through the day when the sun shines bright.
I love you, I really, really do. I really love you.
Here’s the video.
I’ve been studying French with Duolingo. I started to wonder if I could write this song in French. With a little help from my French-speaking friends, we’ve created this version of the first verse.
Je t’aime. Encore, toujours, Je t’aime. (Or Je t’aime d’amour– pronounced: J’t’em d’a-mour)
Je t’aime. Encore, toujours, Je t’aime. (Or Je t’aime d’amour)
Je t’aime le matin. Je t’aime la nuit,
Et toute la journée quand le soleil sourit,
Je t’aime. Encore, toujours. Je t’aime. (Or Je t’aime d’amour)
3. I love to end an early childhood class with this lovely song.
May There Always Be Sunshine
composed by Arkady Ostrovsky, lyrics written by Lev Oshanin
May there always be sunshine,
May there always be blue skies,
May there always be mama/daddy/grandma/grandpa/someone,
May there always be me/ OR Who always loves me.
Here’s a beautiful video of Raffi singing this song.
As Raffi mentions, “May There Always Be Sunshine” (Russian: “Пусть всегда будет солнце!” or “Солнечный круг”) is a popular Soviet children’s song created in 1962. The music was composed by Arkady Ostrovsky and the lyrics written by Lev Oshanin. Korney Chukovsky, a writer and immensely popular children’s poet, later wrote that the inspiration for the song had been the four lines of the refrain, which were composed in 1928 by the four-year-old boy Kostya Barannikov. (source: Wikipedia)
If you’re looking for a simple craft, this one shared by Abby is inexpensive. Children trace around their hands and choose flowers for a bouquet. Paper flowers or stickers would work too.
Last of all, I want to share a favorite photo of my mom, Betty Kampa Miller. She visited us in Japan on four different occasions. Mom always encouraged me to write songs. Can you write a song for your grandma? How about a song for . . .? I thought everyone wrote songs. I continue to write songs that tickle the imaginations and hearts of little ones.
Songwriter Kathy Kampa is a passionate educator of young learners. She seeks to nurture children’s imaginations and spark creativity through fun and engaging activities. Kathy believes music and movement should be a part of every young child’s education. Kathy’s songs for kids (Kathy Kampa’s Special Days and Holidays and Jump Jump Everyone) are available on iTunes.
Kathy uses a globally-minded and inquiry-based approach to teaching through which students develop 21st-century skills. She also supports the development of English language skills by creating songs, chants, and TPR/movement activities targeted to young learners’ needs. Kathy is an author and teacher-trainer with Oxford University Press.
For more kid-tested music and movement activities, check out more music on iTunes, Spotify, and Apple Music. Kathy has produced two music CDs for very young learners, Kathy Kampa’s Special Days and Holidays and Jump Jump Everyone, which build English language skills through music and movement while nurturing creativity and imagination. Grown and loved by real kids!
Check out Kathy Kampa’s YouTube channel here.