Creativity has such a natural place in the early years that it is almost at risk of being overlooked. It is also one of the characteristics that some philosophers consider unique to humanity. The ability to create has been shown to reduce symptoms of distress in situations and conditions where people feel out of control, including abuse/trauma, anxiety, depression and substance misuse. Arts are now being included in projects known as “social prescriptions”, where doctors prescribe activities instead of medication, from gardening, walking football, to singing.
Childhood can also be seen as a “condition” where we have little control over choices. Children are therefore often easily manipulated into situations because of their size and inexperience. Tantrums and upset can occur as children become more aware of manipulation and try to resist control. Creating opportunities and experiences where children may safely be in control, like imaginative play, can help to empower. The arts can be useful in creating access, including using child-sized furniture and materials and child-appropriate language.
“Arts” can simply cover painting, dancing and singing. Or it can be extended to drawing, acting and instrumental performance or recording, and even further, into sensory experiences, historical curation and architecture. By exploring different substances, equipment and procedures children can experiment with the different results they can get as a form of problem-solving. This article presents ways to celebrate the twelve days of Christmas creatively, based on singing.
The twelve days of Christmas is a traditional song with unclear origins. Even the origin of some of the individual lines are contested by history and language experts, but the version below is one of the most common versions used. Often accompanied by actions, here are different arty suggestions to explore each sung verse.
Twelve Days of Christmas
Painting:
Simply painting a bird in a tree.
On the first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree!
Two turtle doves: Spoken performance
Memorise and perform this verse for the adult/group.
On the second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Three french hens: Playdough/clay
Using playdough or clay to make small hen decorations.
On the third day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Four calling birds: Photography
Using ipads or similar to capture local birdlife.
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Five golden rings!: Sewing
Sewing rings onto fabric or teaching basic hand-sewing techniques (e.g. tapestry).
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Six geese a laying: Collage
Using different media to cut and paste onto a mosaic pattern.
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Seven swans a swimming: Baking
Using food creatively, either baking swan biscuits or using fruit to make swans (e.g. oranges).
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Eight maids a milking: Acting
Taking turns to act each line for adult or group.
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eight maids a milking
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Nine ladies dancing: Dancing
Introducing a range of dances from different cultures/genres.
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a milking
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Ten lords a leaping: Design outfits/fashion
Using fabric remnants, play scarves or paper outfits.
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Ten lords a leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a milking
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Eleven pipers piping: Model making
Using empty boxes and tubs.
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a milking
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Twelve drummers drumming: Instrument Play
Using drums or pots/pans/buckets like drums.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids milking
Seven swans a swimming
Six geese a laying
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
There are so many ways that this song can be used creatively within a wide variety of arts. Each skill or verse could coincide with special visits, either to see the animal or activity, or to local artist residences or artist visits. And with any luck, each event or activity will hopefully make each verse memorable enough to remember the order!
(The complete song is available on You Tube and each day, each verse will be posted on Musicaliti’s new TikTok channel.)
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