Author Archives: Crystal Murgatroyd

Transition Songs

We teach transition songs often in our Parent-Child Mother Goose groups.
Transition songs are a wonderful tool to use throughout daily routine living,
whether you’re at home, out in the community, or getting ready for a new activity.
Transition songs are a great way to make life predictable for children, thereby boosting
self-esteem and confidence. Transition songs make expectations clear and easier to
understand, boost language skills, and help with emotional regulation. Finally, transition
songs add an element of connection between you and your child(ren).

Whether you’re about to have a nutritious snack, have a bath, or it’s time to clean up
your toys, we have a transition song/rhyme for you!

What is your favorite transition song to sing?

Fishes in the ocean,
Fishes in the sea!
We’ll all stand up on
ONE, TWO… THREE!

The Power of Songs, Rhymes, and Stories at Bedtime

Music is powerful! Isn’t it amazing the ability of a song or rhyme to influence a mood or a
feeling? We use songs sung in our Parent-Child Mother Goose groups to help with transitions and routine daily living. One of these transitions that we like to focus on songs and rhymes is at bedtime.

We want our little ones to enter a stage of calm before bed. We want our little ones to wind down and relax, show us those heavy eyelids and those tremendous yawns, and we want our little ones to feel safe and ready for a restorative sleep. One way we can help with this is by
connecting through the power and pleasure of songs, rhymes and oral stories. Calm-down songs like ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’, ‘Yo Te Amo’, or ‘Love Grows’ provide the perfect opportunity to snuggle up to that safe parent/caregiver. That safety of connection allows the body to feel a sense of calm and security. These gentle, loving songs and rhymes signal to the body to lower heart rate, calm the mind, and get ready to fall asleep.

There is no sweeter way to connect with your children and sooth to sleep than with a loving
Parent-Child Mother Goose song, rhyme or story.

Night night, sleep tight….


*Image graciously borrowed from happiestbaby.com

This Little Piggy
Teaching us Valuable Lessons about Teamwork

This little piggy dug the garden,
And this little piggy pulled the weeds.
This little piggy poured the water,
And this little piggy planted the seeds.
And this little piggy cried a happy,

WEE WEE WEE WEE!
As their garden was now complete!


These green-thumbed piggies provide a wonderful example of teamwork. By working together, the piggies completed a task they can feel proud of. Simple finger plays are great for so many reasons – we teach body parts and body awareness, we connect through touch, and we gently explore complex topics such as teamwork and friendship.