Like every new mom anxious to do everything right for my new baby, Marley, I followed instructions from the experts and attempted to read books to my six-month-old.  Through the wiggles and squirms, torn and nibbled pages, and disinterested babbles, I persevered, determined to have Marley hear just how Pooh saved Piglet from the flood.  I read with as much animation and excitement as I could muster, but she was still more interested in the shine of my earrings or a toy across the room than the Cat in the Hat.

Marley

Then one day out of nowhere Marley paid attention to the entire book.  Not only did she look at the pictures and occasionally turn and smile at me, but she reached out to help me turn the pages, engaging herself like never before.  It suddenly dawned on me that I had absently begun to sing the words instead of just read them.  It caught her interest. 

As I pondered the effects of rhythm and music on children, I thought about the children I work with as an occupational therapist:  the children with cerebral palsy whose tight muscles relax when there is soothing classical music playing; children with speech impediments so severe they cannot say 'good morning', yet they can articulate all of the songs on Sesame Street; and children who are so sensory impaired that they cannot walk a straight line, yet they can do all of the motions to "The Hokey Pokey". 

My own appreciation for music and love for spending time with children led me to create Love Notes^©.