1. Baby Song ProgramThe Salvation Army
Coco Lin

2.  Introduction of Baby Song program
 The background and development
 Baby Song and the church
 Objectives of Baby Song
 Human resources needed
 A session plan
 Suggestions on music
 Facilities and Equipment
 Advertisement and Registration
Baby Song

3.  An Salvation Army outreach program
for babies, toddlers and their parents
 Parents and their babies meet others
in the same situation, build
relationships and make music
together.
 It is about relationships and
fellowships, and making a positive
impact of Christ through music
What is Baby Song program?

4.  babies to experience developmentally appropriate
songs, activities and games;
 parents to assist their babies in language
development and interaction through music;
 parents to build relationships with other parents;
 parents to gain parenting tips and information;
 the church to reach out into the community.
An opportunity for:

5.  Started with a scientific research about
the experiences of fetus in the mother’s
womb
 Music has great impacts on a child’s
development.
 The Salvation Army in Sweden picked up
the program in the early 90’s.
 Quickly spread and has been successful
in reaching un-churched families in many
countries.
The background and development

6. Baby Song and the church
 Churches have a broad
music tradition.
 Baby Song brings new
people into the church.
 Baby Song helps with
family ministry.
 Baby Song helps with the
social fellowship in church.

7.  Overall objective
 Meeting people’s needs-spiritually, socially and physically
 Intermediate objectives
 Make contact with people in the local community
 Build relationships and trust
 Give opportunities for fellowship
 Create an atmosphere that leads to conversations about life
and God
 Attract families to church and know more about God
Objectives of Baby Song

8.  Musical objectives
 Stimulate the child’s linguistic, musical
and motor skills development
 Develop the child’s concept of space
and time
 Stimulate positive contact between
parent and child.
 Give the family a treasury of songs
that they can use at home.
Objectives of Baby Song

9. Who is running the program?
 A music leader:
 Set-up before the session
 Prepares music and makes
song sheets
 Leads the music time
 Home league:
 Prepare and serve
food/snacks and drinks
 In charge of the fellowship
part with snacks as a host
 Corps officer
 Make him/her known and
available
 Have him/her visit from time
to time
 Pray for these families in the
end of the music session
It is important that the whole church is involved in this program.

10. Who is running the program?
Helpers/ volunteers
 Look after and play with children
 Have conversations with parents
 Help to serve food and drinks
The rest of the corps
 Give the rest of corps as much ‘ownership’ as possible by
involving them, like giving them reports in weekly meetings.
It is important that the whole church is involved in this program.

11. 60 minutes music
40 minutes fellowship
Planning a session
(9:40am-11:20am)
The Music Section:
1.Start with sharing parenting
experiences. (common parenting
questions, parenting tips)
2. Have a theme for each session,
like animals, vegetables, flowers,
etc. (enlarge child’s vocabulary)
3. Give each family a special name
according to the theme. (engage
and entertain families)

12.  Give each family a prayer
card, and we will pray for
them.
 Give each family a note to
write down some
recommendation songs.
(put them in an envelope)
The Music Section
 Involve with games,
performances and
competition. (gain credits)
 Give a small gift to the
family that wins.

13. The Music Section
 Prepare name tags for
parents and children.
 Set up the room in a circle
with a mat for each family.
 Prepare a basket for each
child with instruments.
 Always begin and end
with the same few songs-
Routine creates security
and trust.
 A guitar, piano, or CD
music can be useful.

14. The Music Section
 In the last day, give each
family a gift as a memorial.
 If you have a church going
group, you can have many
Christian songs. If your group
is mostly strangers to church,
you may just want to have a
few.
 Start with a Bible verse and
end with a prayer.

15. Program sample
 Welcome song
 Start with introduction/
sharing experiences
(parenting questions and
tips)
 Read a Bible verse
 Introduce today’s theme
and decide each family’s
name
 Review the song that we
learned yesterday
 Rhymes & finger plays
 2 brain teasers
 Family performance
 Rhythm & instrument
playing (marching)
 2 brain teaser
 Family performance

16. Program sample
 Action songs & dance- focus
on the body
 2 brain teaser
 Family performance
 Spiritual songs
 2 brain teaser
 Family performance
 Lullaby (use scarves in
movements to relax children)
 2 brain teaser
 Family performance
 Listen to music
(write down the prayers and
recommendation songs)
 Give a gift to the family that
wins
 Goodbye song
 Pray together

17. The Fellowship Section
 Have snacks and drinks provided.
 Set up an area for the parents to talk and a play area
for the children.
 Invite friends and family for a special celebration and
do special refreshments.

18. After the program  New programs could be
developed out of Baby Song.
 For example: a choir for the
adults or the kids.

 Invite the Baby Song families
to special community
Sundays. Have them perform
from time to time.

19.  Can I ‘play’ with the words?
 Can I reinforce parts of the songs with instruments?
 Are there natural movements to the song?
 Can I visualize anything from the song?
 Is the song easy enough for parents to sing with their
children at home?
Choose well-known songs (traditional), as well as introduce
new songs.
Choosing Music
Questions to consider when choosing a song:

20. Facilities and Equipment
Facilities
 Make sure facilities are
clean.
 Be careful with what is
within children’s reach.
 Use two rooms if possible.
(the music session/the
fellowship session)
 Divide one room into two
sections.
Equipment
 Mats
 Instruments
 CD player/speaker
 An envelope (a prayer
card, a note and a theme
picture)
 A file with song
 Toys
 Light scarves

21.  Remember to get the following information:
 Name of parent
 Name of child
 Birthday of child
 Address & E-mail address
 Phone number
 (Home church)
 Keep a waiting list, if overwhelming response.
 Communicate well with the parents following
registration.
Advertisement and Registration