Norwegian Proverb

While most of us desire to be very focused on our clients, sometimes we need easy access to a back-up plans or an idea to get us going.

Cookie Cutter Week is the first week of December. Consider making some sugar cookie dough getting out the cookie cutters and have fun cutting and decorating.  Throw in some favorite songs.

For those moments when you need to quickly pull together an idea,  so here are some of my past shares  around Cuddling and Dreams.

Cookie Cutter ideas around Cuddling

“I will not play tug o’ war. I’d rather play hug o’ war. Where everyone hugs instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, and everyone grins, and everyone cuddles, and everyone wins.” ~ Shel Silverstein

Cold weather makes me look for ways to keep warm. Cuddling and hugs are a couple of favorites. These ideas are divided into music, books, and massages.

Music for adults:

• Baby, It’s Cold Outside
• Cuddle Up a Little Closer
• I Wanna Hold Your Hand – Beatles
• I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

Music for both children & adults:

• Hold My Hand – Ken Medema
• Reach Out & Touch Somebody’s Hand  

Music for children:

• We all Laugh in the Same Language – Maria Lewis
• The Hug Song – Miss Jenny
• Try the action rhyme: I can Hug!

I can hug, hug, hug,
I can hop, hop, hop,
I can kiss, kiss kiss,
I can stop, stop, stop.
I can nod my head yes,
And I can shake my head no,
And I can sit down very low.

Books for children:

• A Book of Hugs by Dave Ross
• Big Bear Hug by Nicholas Oldland
• Counting Kisses: A kiss and read book by Karen Katz
• Dad Hug Book by Karen Katz
• Daddy Kisses by Anne Gutman and George Hallensleben
• Hug by Jez Alborough
• Hugs and Kisses by Chrisopher Loupi and Eve Tharlet
• Monster Hug! by David Ezra Stein
• The Giant Hug by Sandra Horning and Valeri Gorbachev

Books for adults:

• The Hug Therapy Book by Kathleen Keating
• Bedtime Stories: A Unique Guided Relaxation Program for Falling Asleep and Entering the World of Dreams by Clarissa Pinkola Estes (an audio book)

Give this a try! 

My blog entry titled “Right Down to Your Toes” . There is a fun song about feet for children there as well as a link to “Moving Smart” where further instructions on massaging a child’s feet are provided.

Jump to top

Cookie Cutter ideas around Dreams

Dream! (Photo credit: Melody Campbell)

Dreams can mean so many things.  They can be the movie created by our minds while we sleep.  It can also refer to our hopes and goals for the future.  You will find a mix of the two areas.  For preschoolers you will find a few songs and a list of books you can share. For senior living communities, you will find songs and discussion starters.

For preschoolers:

Much of the material relates to sleep as dreams can be difficult to discuss with children. Check this out if you want to discuss proper rest with your preschooler.

Books: 

• Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep by Joyce Dunbar
• Slowly, Slowly, Slowly said the Sloth by Eric Carle
• Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book
• Sweet Dreams: How Animals Sleep by Kimiko Kajikawa
• Wynken, Blynken, and Nod by Eugene Field
• “Seal Lullaby” by R.L. Stevenson (This is a poem available through various books)
• Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
• Time for Bed by Mem Fox
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
• If You Were My Bunny by Kate McMullan (This was one of the favorites I used to read and sing to my daughter at bedtime.  The book includes lyrics to many popular lullabies.)

Music:

• “Everyone Needs to Rest”
• Series of Book & CD’s “Dream Songs Night Songs”. Each has lullabies in various languages.
• Everybody Sleeps

Looking for ideas to use with Older Adults? Become a member of Session Cafe!

jump to top