When I put my kids to bed at night, I will sing to them. It seems to help to soothe them, especially my son, and lets them know, it really is bedtime. I have memories of my mom singing me to sleep with “I Am a Child of God.” When I was pregnant with my first child, I began to sing the song to her while she was in the womb. She calls it her “Stop Crying” song. When she was two, the children sang it in the Primary program, and she stood up on her chair and shouted, “They’re singing my song!”
I am not the best singer. And so the only songs I really know are the Primary songs and the hymns that we sing at church. Because of this when I am soothing a child or even just spending time singing together I am teaching my children the Primary songs. It is easy to incorporate the songs into our time together each day. When we are driving in a car together we sing. We often sit down together and sing, and we sing at family home evening.
As you teach your children the Primary songs now, you are giving them ideas to draw on when they are older. The great thing about Primary songs is that each one teaches a gospel principle. As you teach the Primary songs to your children you are actually teaching gospel lessons. If you don’t know the songs you can buy the CDs from the church distribution center. It is only $6.50 for the five-disk set, which includes music and words.
I really do not have a great singing voice, but my children don’t care. If you are uncomfortable singing in front of people, don’t let that stand in your way. Your children love you, and will love learning the songs with you. It is a great thing to share music with your children