Can kids learn complex creative skills like music, songwriting, creative writing, drama and dance through play?

Written by Lorrie Holmes

Based on my own experiences as a Creative Arts Instructor & Mentor, over the past decade, I’ve certainly learned that the answer is yes. As a matter of fact, the more creative freedom that’s given, the more focused these kids are on developing a skill or completing a project to the best of their ability. Provide these young artists with the right environment and support and their creativity will blossom. They will automatically:

I love to use fairies and other folklore in my songs that I create to teach my students about science and other fun topics.

Mr. Brown, Educational Songwriter & Science Teacher

This month’s playful personality is Mr. Brown. His songs are full of imagination and have a tenderness to them that is quite magical. I was instantly charmed by each of his videos on his Youtube channel which we’ve included at the bottom of this story. Topics covered in each of his songs are diverse and unique and range from his seasonal fairy series to many science-related topics, to a fun spelling song. You see, he’s a science teacher and has a playful approach to teaching through songs but what’s even more unique about his collection of songs is his use of fairies & folklore that can’t help but appeal to the magical side of a child’s imagination – the perfect place to teach from! He’s speaking to kids in their language – the language of wonderment and curiosity. We are excited to be featuring Mr. Brown and his educational songs just before Earth Day and appreciate his commitment to sharing his passions for nature and science with these impressionable, young minds – and hearts!

Lee Edward Fodi is Teaching Kids How To Put Their Own Daydreaming To Good Use

Interviewed by Lorrie Holmes

Lee Edward Födi is an author, illustrator, and specialized arts educator—or, as he likes to think of himself, a daydreaming expert. He is the author of Zoone series (HarperCollins) and the Kendra Kandlestar series (Simply Read Books). He has also illustrated books for other authors. Lee teaches kids how to put their own daydreaming to good use at schools, libraries, and through workshops with the Creative Writing for Children (CWC) Society, which he co-founded in 2004. During his free time, he’s a traveler, adventurer, and maker of dragon eggs. He lives in Vancouver, Canada, with his wife, son, and unhelpful cat. Lee’s latest book, The Secret Of Zoon, will be released on April 9th. Published by HarperCollins, this book is the perfect middle-grade fantasy for kids ages 8 & up. Let’s see what Lee has to say about this book and all the other wonderfully magical things he’s up to.

Because I am completely juvenile and haven’t grown up yet, I find it easy to relate to kids on that elemental level…. and I see how enthusiastically they respond to that.

Mr Doug, Children’s Performer

Mr Doug uses music, poetry, and storytelling while promoting themes that encourage positive child development. He does this quite effortlessly by engaging his audience with his unique brand of humour. Though we love Mr Doug’s appreciation for funny things, there is much more to him than just hitting our funny bones. His messages of love, self-worth, and kindness towards others resonate deeply with children, parents, and teachers alike. We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Mr Doug about the release of his Responsible Songables. I checked them out myself the other day and was very impressed with his catchy melodies, professional production, and the positive impactful lyrics and vocals that I feel will speak to the kids while also impressing their parents and teachers. I’m looking forward to testing each of these songs out in classrooms in the near future and will review them shortly. The messages in these songs are impactful but not preachy. Now let’s see what Mr Doug has to share with us about songwriting and kidding around.

I’m wanting to pay for my own university education, raise money for my favourite charity, and have money to travel.

Rosie, Kidpreneur

For the most part, Rosie is your typical sixth grader.  She loves to read and her favourite books are Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. She also loves Starbucks, swimming, and of course, like most kids her age, she loves screentime.  And like most kids, Rosie wanted her own iPad and so she asked her parents if they would buy her one. Like most parents, Rosie received the standard answer from them that many kids get when asking for such an extravagant gift which was you can have one when you can figure out how to pay for it.

Now we’re getting to the unique part of Rosie. Rosie actually accepted this challenge and found a way to do just that!  And why not? After all, as the saying goes, she’s a product of her own environment. Well, not really. Rosie is her own person, but she definitely has some positive influencers around her, and many of them are in business for themselves. Included are her father, grandmother and also, her grandfather. So, why not start her own business? Why does her age have to be a barrier?

This Valentine’s Day, we decided to focus on FRIENDSHIP + PARTNERSHIP. Having said that, we are happy to share such a story with you about what it looks like when you marry your BFF. These two lovebirds are both very creative in their own rights and a little bit nerdy as well. Let’s see what happens after they decide to join their ‘creative forces’ in a lifelong connection of their hearts and minds. Introducing children’s author and creative writing mentor, Lee Edward Fodi, and his VALENTINE, actress and creative wonder, Marcie Nestman. They are both being interviewed here by one of Lee’s creative writing students, Chloe Kang, who he first met at CWC (Creative Writing Society for Children of British Columbia) which Lee is the co-founder of.

 

From the first time I saw you spinning on the ice, I knew you were for me, and hoped I would be for you. So be my Valentine, now and forevermore, and let’s continue this little adventure we have started together. From mountain to shore, and dawn to night, you are the one who makes everything feel right.

 

This year on Valentine’s Day, we decided to focus on FRIENDSHIP.  As a result, we have two stories that we are so excited to be featuring!  The first one is one a this dynamic duo – Bobs & Lolo.  Their partnership did not begin as a business arrangement but rather, blossomed from a lifelong friendship that started at the tender age of eight, when these two met at Girl Guides. There, they shared their love for nature and music, and discovered how much they had in common. Of course, there were a lot of songs they shared around the campfires! The photo above depicts these two getting ready for a high school talent show! Yes, they also went through high school together and have been there for each other throughout all their milestones in life.

They have always been there to support each other’s dreams. After going off and pursing their own post secondary careers, they were able to come back together with their degrees in education, and combine their experiences as both teachers and child performers. Now these BFF’s travel the world together performing their own songs to children and their families – living the dream of any child performer.

 

 

We have always had each other and for that, we feel so grateful.

BOBS & LOLO

One of their earlier songs from their SEANOTES ALBUM, Cindy The Seahorse – is my personal favourite and one that I am happy to include in this story as it’s all about the friendship that is formed between two seahorses. The song is very soft, soothing and it sneaks up on you with it’s magical storytelling quality. The music is beautiful and magical and draws the children in. The slow tempo is perfect for swaying back and forth and rocking on your feet with small children in an early learning music class, which is where I have made a lot of use of this song over the years. The lyrics tell the story of a shy, sweet little seahorse by the name of Cindy who is all alone, swimming slowly as seahorses do when she spots another seahorse. By the end of the song, Cindy has made a friend and it’s such a warmhearted song to share with young children. We’ve included the video here which I absolutely love. It’s sung inside a tent where Bobs & Lolo are intimately sharing this lyrical story with some children in such a sweet depiction. We hope you enjoy it as much we do and please feel free to write into us to let us know how your kids or students feel about this song and how you have made use of it. I personally created felt characters of Cindy and her new friend and had my young musical friends use them in our circle time, where they had these character swim while they were passed around in opposite directions, until they met and held tails as they swam away, which is also something seahorses like to do.

 

 

And now, Bobs & Lolo have given us an exclusive interview – conducted in video format by some of their own children – on what friendship means to them! We hope you enjoy!

 

Q & A about FRiENDSHiP with BOB’S & LOLO

 

 

 

 

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I can’t seem to help myself when I write songs. What comes out is the indescribably powerful emotions I feel about the most important people in my life.

Jarome Lochkrin, Singer/Songwriter

 

 

From our children to our art, our businesses to our charities of choice, there are many different kinds of legacies that we can leave behind for our loved ones; those that live on while keeping a little part of us still here in some special way. Today we are happy to introduce you to someone who is creating his own legacy, one song at a time.