They say that the New Year starts on January first, but I
don’t really believe it. I’ve always thought that the year starts in the fall.
Fall brings the excitement of new beginnings. For kids---a new school year, new fall school
shoes, a clean backpack. For grown-ups fall can bring a renewed appreciation of
nature that is so glorious this time of year, and of course, there’s the guilty
pleasure of five-pound fashion magazines that show us all the new things we
should be wanting. And starting up my lullaby blog again---it feels like a new
year with new things to share!
The miracle of the leaves turning colors is something to
celebrate. Here are three ways to do that:
1. Take a walk with your child and sing a song about fall.
Make one up as you go, or sing this one (words by Jean Warren) to the tune of
“The Wheels on the Bus.”
The
Leaves on the trees are yellow and brown,
Yellow and brown, yellow and brown.
The leaves on the trees are yellow and brown,
All through the town.
Yellow and brown, yellow and brown.
The leaves on the trees are yellow and brown,
All through the town.
The
leaves on the trees are falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
The leaves on the trees are falling down,
All through the town.
Falling down, falling down.
The leaves on the trees are falling down,
All through the town.
2. Collect leaves together, finding different shapes and
colors, and don’t forget the ones that are half green and half red. You can
create a simple book of leaves the old-fashioned way by ironing them between
two sheets of wax paper to preserve them, and putting them into a three-ring
binder. Label each page with the name of the leaf (if you can figure it out!)
3. Play an autumn lullaby as you put your baby down to nap.
This beautiful lullaby sung by Natalie Merchant will make you both drift off to
sleep.
NATALIE MERCHANT “AUTUMN LULLABY.”
Here’s to the end of summer and lots of new beginnings!
Sweet Dreams,
