Songs for Schools
Hug, Hug, Hug Your Friends -- (To the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Hug hug hug your friends
Hug them everyday
Hug them and kiss them and tell them you love them
And listen to what they say.
© 2003 Steve Hein (Note)
I originally wrote this song as a message to parents with the words, "Hug your kids". But then I changed it for a primary school. So, you could have two versions of it. Hug your kids or hug your friends.
Wouldn't the world be a happier place if parents and children followed this simple advice and sang this song instead of the original row row row your boat?
By the way, here in Quito I had no problem getting the kids (around 9 years old) to hug their friends They enjoyed it. But this would be forbidden in the USA because schools would be afraid of sexual harassment lawsuits.
Later I asked some girls if they got hugged at home. All but one out said yes. Then I asked if they got hit at home. I don't have my notes in front of me now from that day, but I think nearly all said yes, including the one that didn't get hugged. I looked at her and asked her if she needed a hug. She said yes so I put out my harms and she came to me and I gave her a long hug. This would also be forbidden in the USA and other supposedly free countries. I then asked her if she was going to hug her own children and she said yes.
I don't usually worry about copyrights, but this is such a good song that I want to be given credit for it and I don't want others putting it in books and selling their books without letting me know
Just to be a little more legally protected, I will write the other version here:
Hug, Hug, Hug Your Kids -- (To the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Hug hug hug your kids
Hug them everyday
Hug them and kiss them and tell them you love them
And listen to what they say.
© 2003 Steve Hein
The Alphabet Song
Many people know the ABCDEFG..... song. But some don't know about the extra words that are often added at the end. I was taught something like, ABCD.... QRST, TUV, WX, YZ. Now I've said my ABC's, tell me what you think of me."
But I don't want children to be any more approval seeking than the already are. So I created these new words when I was in Indonesia:
"When I say my ABC's, I feel proud and so happy!" Then when I write this on the board in schools, I put a smiley face next to it. This almost always gets smiles from the children.
I won't even bother trying to copyright this, but if you use it, please give me credit!
Steve Hein
March, 7 2004