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by
Mary Thienes- Schunemann
 “Singing
weaves connections between body, soul, mind and spirit…”
Our voice is our first and primary connection with our children. The
baby in utero begins forming their ears already at three to four weeks.
In
the mothers’ watery home, the vibration of voices and sounds rock and
resound through her growing, developing body. In this way we help to form
the structure and architecture of the baby’s physical body.
After birth, a baby is like one great listening ear. She listens with
her whole body. As she grows, the voices of those around her become deep
conveyors of love, warmth and connection. Through our voices, our support,
and encouragement can resound through our children and become a healing
balm for them.
In their first two years of life, children are able to babble all the
sounds that exist on the planet. We allow our child great joy by
encouraging her to utilize her full vocal potential for as long as
possible. We can also have fun imitating her at this age. When she reaches
the age of one and a half to two, she will focus more and more on the
language spoken around her and begin to imitate it more and more. It is
through our human interactions that singing, speech and laughter begin.
Nurturing gestures coupled with song, give a child a sense of well-being
and influence the development of the brain., as well as the function and
form of his inner organs. They can help him regulate his balance, his
blood pressure, his body temperature, his appetite, his cardio-vascular
system, his sleep and his immune system. Responsive interactions between
baby and caregiver can encourage him to develop initiative and
self-confidence in building and maintaining healthy and meaningful
relationships with others.
Let us sing with our wee ones to create a hopeful, joyful, peace filled
future ! 
 Mary
Thienes Schunemann has a bachelor's degree in Psychology, a musical
instructor for LifeWays childcare trainings, is a Waldorf Teacher, music
educator, singer, composer, inspired mother and homemaker! She teaches
singing workshops around the country, and gives private music lessons in
her home in southeastern Wisconsin. She is the president of the Rafael
Foundation for New Impulses in Music, and is the director of the women's
vocal ensemble Avalon a cappella. She works out of the principles of the
School of Uncovering the Voice, and has studied singing extensively in
Europe and America since 1989.
Reprinted
by Permission
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on the links to read our articles by
and
about Mary Thienes-Schunemann
Singing
Children, Happier Children
Sleep,
Children Sleep . . .
Lullabies
are Love Songs
by
Michaela Glockler M.D.
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