December 2021 Parenta Magazine

Imagination and expression in the
arts using music in the early years
Creativity has such a natural place in the early years that it is almost at risk of being overlooked. It
is also one of the characteristics that some philosophers consider unique to humanity. The ability
to create has been shown to reduce symptoms of distress in situations and conditions where
people feel out of control, including abuse/trauma, anxiety, depression and substance misuse.
Arts are now being included in projects known as “social prescriptions”, where doctors prescribe
activities instead of medication, from gardening, walking football, to singing.
Childhood can also be seen as a
“condition” where we have little control
over choices. Children are therefore often
easily manipulated into situations because
of their size and inexperience. Tantrums
and upset can occur as children become
more aware of manipulation and try to
resist control. Creating opportunities and
experiences where children may safely be
in control, like imaginative play, can help
to empower them. The arts can be useful
in creating access, including using childsized
furniture and materials and childappropriate
language.
“Arts” can simply cover painting, dancing
and singing. Or it can be extended
to drawing, acting and instrumental
performance or recording, and even
further, into sensory experiences, historical
curation and architecture. By exploring
different substances, equipment and
procedures children can experiment with
the different results they can get as a form
of problem-solving. This article presents
ways to celebrate the twelve days of
Christmas creatively, based on singing.
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” is a
traditional song with unclear origins. Even
the origin of some of the individual lines
are contested by history and language
experts, but the version below is one of
the most common versions used. Often
accompanied by actions, here are different
arty suggestions to explore each sung
verse.
Twelve Days of Christmas
A partridge in a pear tree: Painting.
Simply painting a bird in a tree.
On the first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree!
Two turtle doves: Spoken performance.
Memorise and perform this verse for the
adult/group.
On the second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Three French hens: Playdough/clay.
Using playdough or clay to make small
hen decorations.
On the third day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Four calling birds: Photography.
Using iPads or similar to capture local
birdlife.
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Five golden rings!: Sewing.
Sewing rings onto fabric or teaching basic
hand-sewing techniques (e.g. tapestry).
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Six geese a laying: Collage.
Using different media to cut and paste onto
a mosaic pattern.
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Seven swans a swimming: Baking.
Using food creatively, either baking swan
biscuits or using fruit to make swans (e.g.
oranges).
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Eight maids a milking: Acting.
Taking turns to act each line for adult or
group.
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eight maids a milking
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Nine ladies dancing: Dancing.
Introducing a range of dances from different
cultures/genres.
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a milking
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Ten lords a leaping: Design outfits/
fashion.
Using fabric remnants, play scarves or
paper outfits.
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Ten lords a leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a milking
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Eleven pipers piping: Model making
Using empty boxes and tubs.
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a milking
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Twelve drummers drumming: Instrument
play. Using drums or pots/pans/buckets
like drums.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids milking
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
There are so many ways that this song can
be used creatively within a wide variety
of arts. Each skill or verse could coincide
with special visits, either to see the animal
or activity, or to local artist residences or
artist visits. And with any luck, each event
or activity will hopefully make each verse
memorable enough to remember the order!
Frances Turnbull
Musician, researcher and author,
Frances Turnbull, is a self-taught guitarist
who has played contemporary and
community music from the age of 12. She
delivers music sessions to the early years
and KS1. Trained in the music education
techniques of Kodály (specialist singing),
Dalcroze (specialist movement) and Orff
(specialist percussion instruments), she
has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology
(Open University) and a Master’s degree
in Education (University of Cambridge).
She runs a local community choir, the
Bolton Warblers, and delivers the Sound
Sense initiative “A choir in every care
home” within local care and residential
homes, supporting health and wellbeing
through her community interest
company.
She has represented the early years
music community at the House of
Commons, advocating for recognition
for early years music educators, and her
table of progressive music skills for under
7s features in her curriculum books.
Frances is the author of “Learning with
Music: Games and activities for the early
years“, published by Routledge, August
2017.
www.musicaliti.co.uk
(The complete song is available on You
Tube and each day, each verse will
be posted on Musicaliti’s new TikTok
channel.)
12 December 2021 | parenta.com
parenta.com | December 2021 13