Jeannine Proulx - Melodies: Harmonies for Pre-Schoolers

The Story of The Melodies: Harmonies for Pre-Schoolers When I was growing up, our house was always full of neighbors' kids, cousins and friends. Add four siblings to the mix and our house was quite a zoo. As a matter of fact we called it the Proulx Zoo! To keep some semblance of order, and to keep her sanity, my mother would have quiet time in the afternoons where we would listen to music. Those times were some of my favorite memories, curled up on the floor under a cozy blanket reading the stories that came with the albums and listening to the music. My favorites were The Music Machine's "Have Patience" and Disney's "When You Wish upon a Star." These songs stuck in my head throughout my life, giving me courage, inspiration and motivation during difficult times. While rushing to work in high school I'd hear "Have patience. Have patience. Don't be in such a hurry." During depressive states in college wanting to give up on my dreams I'd hear "When you wish upon a star." When several parents who had used my Guided Meditation Lessons from the Children of the New Earth magazine with their older children asked me to write something for their toddlers and preschoolers, I knew I wanted to create something that would not only teach children life lessons, but stick with them for life. The songs I had loved in childhood were great inspirational songs, but they were missing one key ingredient, the how. "Have Patience." Great idea! How? "Wish upon a star. Your dreams come true." Tried it, no luck. How? As I started writing the songs for the children I was set to inspire, I wanted to give them more. I wanted to give them that extra oomph in life that could help them succeed, not just in school or in work, but in life! So that's when the life readiness lesson portion of The Melodies was born. We spend so much time teaching our kids their ABCs and 123s to get them ready for school, we sometimes forget to get them ready for the tests in life. As all day kindergarten becomes the norm and children are educated academically at an earlier and earlier age, we must also remember to provide them with the skills to deal with the social, emotional and psychological tests they will encounter in their daily lives. The Melodies give children practical, down-to-earth and instantly effective tools to help them cope with all the challenges presented in this new world. The Melodies Life Readiness Lessons are a roadmap for the kids to follow. "Love one another." Great idea, how? Answer: A Love Song's Life Readiness Lesson - "Use words of love!" "Change your attitude." Great idea, how? Answer: Thank You Song's Life Readiness Lesson - "Use Gratitude to Change Your Attitude!" As the children listen to the lessons (available online no charge on The Melodies 4 Kids website) and the songs on CD, they gain instant knowledge of a technique that can help them with the challenges presented in daily life. From "Seeing with Your Heart" to even "Sitting Still," these life readiness exercises prepare children for the challenges of life while giving parents and teachers immediate tools to help by using these lessons as the issues arise. Based on tried and true methods taken from meditative techniques, psychological applications and child development insights, The Melodies Life Readiness Songs and Lessons not only prepare children for life today, but they stay with them to encourage well-being throughout their lives. The Melodies, with the amazing musical composition from my brother, Grammy Award winning composer and jazz musician John Proulx and singer/songwriter Jeannine Proulx not only help prepare children for life, but they will stick with them for a lifetime! (And maybe help us adults out a bit too!) *A portion of The Melodies: Life Readiness Songs Kids goes to MaxLove Project helping fund complimentary treatments for the Super Kids battling terminal illnesses.