As schoolwork is finishing up for the year, and children begin sleeping in and shedding shoes, moms are left figuring out how to keep children occupied and productive. While camps, outdoor games, sprinklers and swimming pools get bodies moving, and summer reading keeps the mind engaged, how about some extra family music time for the body, mind and soul?
Our Making Music Praying Twice families often ask what we recommend for the summer. Those using the Family Edition recognize that the liturgical calendar’s summer Ordinary Time has begun and they search for a version to go along with the change of season. Those enrolled in classes have to settle for a one-week summer camp to tide them over until the fall. The Easter-Pentecost or Summer Camp CDs can provide relevant and familiar music through these months. Or pick and choose songs from the entire year’s curriculum getting creative with summer-themed lyric substitutions.
Here are some ideas:
Sissy in the Barn from Ordinary Time Fall – “Maggie in the pool, the pool, oh help me, silliest Maggie I ever did see oh splish, splash, throw your arms all around me. Hey little Maggie, jump in to me!”
Baa Baa Black Sheep from Advent/Christmas/Epiphany – “Grow, grow, garden have you any beans? Yes sir, yes sir, fresh green beans. One for your mommy, one for your dad. One for the baby, the best you ever had. Grow, grow, garden have you any beans? Yes sir, yes sir, fresh green beans.”
Michael Row the Boat Ashore from Ordinary Time Winter – “Mommy, drive us to the lake, Alleluia! And we’ll have a picnic there, Alleluia!”
The Butcher Boy from Lent – “Rah, rah, ream, let’s get some cool ice cream. Rah, rah, ream, let’s get some cool ice cream. Rah, rah, ream, let’s get some cool ice creeeeeeeam. It’s summertime, it’s summer time, oh summertime is here!”
Hop Old Squirrel from Easter/Pentecost - “Run through the sprinkler, eidle dum eidle dum. Run through the sprinkler eidle dum dee. Run through the sprinkler, eidle dum eidle dum. Run through the sprinkler eidle dum dee. Jump through the sprinkle eidle dum …..”
Make a commitment to more musical activities by narrating your summer fun with song. On vacation this year, turn off the CDs and DVDs for awhile and challenge each other to make up new lyrics and tunes about the trip. Come up with jingles for the billboards on the highway, and write a special song about each family member. Pray the Ave Maria and Guardian Angel Prayer (to the tune of The Water is Wide) as you buckle up and head onto the highway. Make music more interactive, special, and present in your child’s life.
