Singing to Babies Improves Their Moods. Okay, so this isn’t new news - in fact, it doesn't surprise me at all. Nor would it surprise any children’s librarian here at Wilmette Public Library. Even so, I was super excited when NPR broadcast this story this past summer - and when I learned that this study out of Yale University has finally captured what children’s librarians, good teachers, and choir directors have known for all eternity: singing fosters connection, singing fosters contentment.
I’ve been singing songs with babies and their families for a really, really long time. I devoted a couple of years to “research” on the topic when I had little babies myself, in order to build a repertoire of teeny tiny songs with which to create a babytime library program. That type of programming was just getting its start in the early 2000s - public libraries at the time primarily played to 3-5 year olds, and without their parents and caregivers in tow at that. The concept of family storytimes and baby-and-me programs was brand new. I was excited to be exploring new territory, something in the field that felt “cutting edge.”
So, my infant and then toddler son and I may have looked like just any old mom and baby out on the town, but in reality, we were secret agents. We spent his babyhood spying on library baby programs, music and infant yoga classes, and undercover in early childhood Waldorf rooms, all in a quest to curate and learn as many story songs as possible within that short window of time that I could travel incognito. And what I found wasn’t revolutionary, a lost art maybe, but simply the age old wisdom that music soothes the very young and that a baby sung to by its caregiver will wriggle with joy, make eye contact, laugh. And, according to this study, a baby who is sung to will also sleep better, be a more successful self-soother, enjoy longer spells between fussiness, and, in short, become more resilient.
Early in my career I had latched onto the idea of allowing parents to enter the sacred storytime space - I liked it - I loved the idea of families taking home a shared experience. I liked the community feeling it built. I think sharing stories and songs is what makes us human, what we look for in each other, no matter our age: told or sung stories connect us on a very basic level. It’s how we learn, how we strengthen family and friendships: sharing stories, and sharing and building those stories in relationship with one another.
My guess is that further research would also show that quality, in-tuneness, the beauty of the song, is not what this joy is about. Yes, listening to beautiful music brings us joy - but I will tell you that no one is happier than my husband is when he sings karaoke. And nobody sings more off key. And nobody lights up the room like my husband does when he sings - he loves it, and the room loves it right along with him. My daughter and I do a terrible rendition of Elton John’s Yellow Brick Road, and I can’t think of anything I enjoy more than that. And a car-full of ABBA is seldom pretty, but it’s hard to beat the fun factor.
Babytime with Ms. Andrea and her lapsit songs, Family Storytime with Ms. Diane and her singsong nursery rhymes, Family Storytime with Ms. Amanda and her ukulele, puppet songs and pajama time stories with Ms. Susan, these opportunities provide not only moments of entertainment, but a joyful shared experience that you can take with you and recreate. While I enjoy connecting with my audience in storytime, what I have come to love even more over time is fostering that connection between caregivers and their own little one. Seeing them giggle at each other during a song or rhyme, seeing caregiver’s and baby’s eyes connect, seeing a mom or nanny simply amazed by the joy a little one takes in a familiar tune, this is what we as librarians love. The moments of connection fostered in Babytime are eminently replicable and are there for the packing up and taking home - you too can travel into any and all of our storytime rooms here at the library, do your own reconnaissance, and go home with a story in your pocket and a song in your shared hearts!
Over 50 years ago, I walked out of a branch of the Hennepin Country Library system as a four year old with “I’m a Little Teapot” in my pocket. I still remember singing and tipping over to pour out my tea, my story, with the storytime librarian. Since then, I’ve had countless opportunities to share this song, and a million adaptations (including” I’m a Little Kitty Cat” and “I’m a Little Pumpkin”), and their simplicity and joy never fail me.
I encourage you to visit us at storytime, tuck a song in your purse or pocket, and don’t hesitate to make a beautiful noise. And, we’d love to hear about your favorite takeaway stories and songs: please, share them with us!