The Simple Gift Schoolhouse Philosophy
The philosophy behind Simple Gift Schoolhouse is refreshingly straightforward, yet it can sometimes feel overwhelming to grasp. All it takes is a moment, a breath, and a look around us to realize that the best gifts in life are, indeed, the simplest. This truth can be even more challenging to recognize when we involve our children. Our lives often become a whirlwind of constant movement, noise, and chaos. However, if we strive to find that moment of stillness, to take a deep breath, and gain perspective, we’ll see that the gifts are all around us—especially when it comes to our children.
Consider the way their eyes widen as they deepen their gaze to understand you and the world around them. The sheer joy of their smiles and the eagerness of their little hands reaching out for connection—all these are precious gifts. I believe that by fostering a genuine and meaningful relationship with music in these moments, we can enrich our experiences with our children even further. When we gift them the ability to create and comprehend the transformative power of music, we are truly impacting their lives forever.
I invite you to embark on this journey with me and the spirited, soulful team of dedicated individuals—both young and old—who are navigating this very experience together. Ironically, timing is everything. The world is moving at a rapid pace—we yearn to slow down, yet our children are evolving and growing right before our very eyes. We must make it a point to pay attention.
These reflections come from my 40+ years of working with children and families. It’s hard to believe how quickly time passes. Yet, in each of us, there remains a child eager to explore and play.
Being Courageously Creative
Creativity is an innate part of who we are as human beings, and it often unfolds without us even realizing it. We are shaped, evaluated, and influenced by our creative endeavors and expressions—whether it's the little picture displayed proudly on the fridge, the song we shared with a friend, or the moment a choir teacher advised us to “just mouth the words” during a performance. These seemingly innocent comments carry immense weight, shaping how we evolve into adulthood. I hear such sentiments echoed frequently from the families I work with: “I can’t sing!” “I can’t draw,” or “I never succeeded at learning an instrument—not even the kazoo!” I would argue that we are all capable of creativity; it is an essential aspect of being human. Inviting children into this equation presents us with a beautiful opportunity to courageously navigate a landscape filled with unbridled, unfiltered brilliance that ultimately defines our unique contributions as we share this life journey.
This is one of the reasons we created the space for Simple Gift Schoolhouse Pop-Up Playgroups. Beyond fostering community, addressing social isolation for caregivers, and providing quality music and literacy programming for attendees, these playgroups grant everyone the ‘permission’ to be silly, to sing, to dance, and to engage with their children and others as they embrace new learning experiences through music. I will delve into these elements and more in future blog posts. For now, I encourage you to be present and to recognize the moments that comprise your child's life journey. Step into your own courageously creative self, and above all, have fun.
P.S. – It might take putting the phone down for a moment. Just sayin’.
