Lift up your voice and sing!

When you introduce a song to your primary children, sing it to them.

What? You're not an opera singer? You have a goofy, squeaky voice? You wouldn't be caught dead singing in front of anyone? 

I admit that I felt conspicuous the first time I sang in front of my primary many years ago, but I wouldn't go back to saying the words instead of singing them for anything, even though I have a completely boring, ordinary, never-sing-a-solo voice. When I sing the words instead of saying the words I accomplish several important things:

Children pay attention. They're already used to tuning out the endless talking of adults, but not many adults sing to them.  Perhaps their innate tender-heartedness kicks in as you demonstrate your willingness to be vulnerable by singing in your very ordinary voice.  They also pay better attention because words with music are more interesting than words alone.

Children learn songs much more quickly. You may think that it's more confusing to learn the words and the music at the same time, but it works the other way. The tune helps you remember the words, and the words help you remember the tune.  This is why all those TV commercial jingles you heard 20 years ago are still stuck in your head.

Children sing out more confidently when they see that you enjoy singing and are happy to be heard. Singing is a wonderful blessing of being human.

Being willing to sing to your primary children is an important element in the teaching method we'll be discussing next time, "Get their attention, direct their listening," which is my favorite way to teach a primary song.  I learned it in the excellent church video "How to Teach a Song to Children," which is still available in many Meetinghouse Libraries, including the library in our stake center.

If you've never sung to your primary children, give it a try.  It's less scary than you think!