Preschool
Fingerplays
Finger
Plays with "Miss Lori"
Educating
Today's Children in a Traditional Style
Many
would argue that today's children are missing
out on a human mentor - the kind of figure
children in the 60s, 70s, and 80s had in Sherri
Lewis, Captain Kangaroo, and Mr. Rogers, to
name a few. Well no more. Lori Reeves, aka
"Miss Lori," an early childhood
educator for more than 20 years, has brought
back the traditional fun yet educational experience
with her new video "Finger Plays with
Miss Lori," In addition to the video;
she has created her sidekick Sqedunk. He is
the rag doll mascot of Sqedunk Children Productions.
Miss Lori's purpose for starting Sqedunk Children
Productions is to place the importance on
Nursery Rhymes and their history and value
in raising children. Miss Lori is an advocate
of early childhood learning and knows the
importance of stimulating the young child's
mind. Nursery Rhymes are an excellent way
to reach a young child. Through facial expressions,
singing, rhyming, hand and body movements,
Nursery Rhymes are a sure way to stimulate
the brain, while aiding in the connection
of brain cells. Research has shown the importance
of stimulating the brain in the first 3 years
of life.
What
are Finger Plays?
Finger Plays are valuable activities that
help children acquire skills essential to
their development and learning. Finger Plays
help improve and advance memory and language
skills, while also aiding in the development
of eye-hand coordination and enhancing gross
and fine motor skills.
Finger Plays are essentially Nursery Rhymes
that have been passed down from generation
to generation. Each storyteller has his or
her own creative style of presenting, with
facial expressions, hand, feet and body movements.
Finger Plays have captivated children for
many years.
Miss Lori wanted to keep the traditional folklore
of these fun finger plays continued for centuries
to come. She felt she could immortalize these
fun rhymes on video, while also reaching numbers
of parents and their children around the world.
Therefore, enabling parents to relearn the
Rhymes and have the confidence to participate
in their young child's development!
History
of Finger Plays
"Miss Lori" went to the Library
of Congress in Washington, DC to find the
history of each Finger Play she sings. For
instance, Hickory Dickory Dock is about "Big
Ben" and was first documented as a child's
rhyme in the 1700s. Another finger play "Where
is Thumb Kin", was first documented in
1710. The first words were related to the
King's servants and staff.
Most of the Finger Plays that Miss Lori sings
on the video can be traced back to 18th century
England.
Endorsements
The video has quickly become a staple of the
early educational market. Toddler, Preschool
and Grade School teachers have found the video
to be a great accompaniment to their curriculum.
Libraries across the country and Canada are
adding Miss Lori and Sqedunk to their children's
section.
KIDS FIRST, the Coalition of Quality Children's
Media, and The America Library Association
have recently endorsed "Finger Plays
with "Miss Lori."
Other Sqedunk Products
Miss Lori wrote a story to introduce Sqedunk;
it is titled Sqedunk takes a Tub Tub.
Sqedunk has two different type dolls made
in his own image, and a children's clothing
line with an embroidered picture of Sqedunk
on each item.
These products, as well as the "Finger
Plays with Miss Lori" video and DVD,
with an added bonus of classic cartoons, are
available at www.sqedunk.com.
The website is not only a place to order the
Sqedunk products, it is a fun, safe place
on the web for children to visit. They can
learn the words to the Finger Plays, watch
a couple of clips from the video and find
out when
"Miss Lori Live" will be coming
to a city near them. There is even a picture
journal of Miss Lori and Sqedunk adventures!
