Tinikling is a Philippine folk dance from the Visayan Islands that traditionally uses two bamboo poles and nimble footwork inspired by the tikling bird.

Want to bring this rich cultural dance experience to your classroom but limited on storage space or have additional accessibility needs?

Fitting into an included draw string bag, these “Tinikling Inspired Rhythm Cords” come in a set of 12 with two of each color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Cords are machine washable in a mesh bag, and best hung out to air dry to keep their shape.

A set of 12 cords can accommodate 18 students at once: 2 students on each side and 1 student moving between them (as depicted below with the traditional stick materials).

*These cords are an educational adaptation inspired by Tinikling and are not intended to replace learning about traditional Tinikling performed with bamboo poles.

Tinikling Inspired Rhythm Cord Specifications:

• The cords are 1 inch wide x 7 feet long
• Made of durable, lightweight polypropylene webbing
• Each cord features a large hook-and-loop closure on each end with Velcro, allowing it to fit easily over shoes and onto a user’s ankle or calf. The cords can also be held by hand rather than being placed on one’s ankle/calf.
• Comes in a set of 12 with two of each color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Also comes with a drawstring storage bag.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Bear Paw Creek’s Tinikling Cords are not made of an elastic material, which means they do not stretch and are not flexible.

Bear Paw Creek’s Tinikling Inspired Rhythm Cords in Action:

Check out this link for examples from Filipino educators, dancers, and cultural organizations on traditional tinikling.

Click the image below or click here to see Lena Leon, The Crafter Teacher, and her class using our Tinikling Inspired Rhythm Cords. In the video, you can get an idea of their size and also see how they would work being held by hand rather than the loops being placed around ankles/calves.

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Our original Stretchy Bands for creative movement come in four different sizes and are a complete circle. The Connect-a-Stretchy Band only comes in one size. However, it features a buckle system that allows you to disconnect the band and use it in a straight line in addition to the circle.

With the buckle system, you can connect additional bands together. Allowing you to create the size you need for your creative movement activities. This is ideal for those with varying class sizes or for those who like to use different-sized bands for different activities.

With the Set of 6 Connect-a-Stretchy Bands, you will be able to create all four original Stretchy Band sizes. Plus two larger sizes: an XXL (five bands connected) and an XXXL (all six bands connected). This would be a very fun way to engage a large group or classroom by allowing you all to be a part of the same circle.

With the six bands and their connecting capabilities, you would also be able to split larger groups into smaller groups. Instead of one large group on one circle, you could split everyone up into two or three groups! 

Hub 12 Connector:

Using a Hub allows you to turn your Connect-a-Stretchy Bands into fun shapes, such as: 

•  Octopus
• Sun
• Star
• Flower

Or whatever your imagination comes up with! Learn more about our Hub connectors here. Using a Hub only adds to the creativity and fun you can have with our Connect-a-Stretchy Bands!

Sizing Guide:

The sizing guide below gives the original Stretchy Band sizes along with the conversion chart for the Connect-a-Stretchy Bands. Determining how many you can fit around a band depends on the age/size of those you have in your creative movement class or session. When we say “people,” we are referring to tweens/teens and adults.

Check out our FREE resource guide to Stretchy Bands and Connect-a-Stretchy Bands. A combined 100+ song and activity ideas!

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Size Options:

• 5-foot Play Parachute: at 60″ in diameter with eight handles, this is the perfect size for smaller groups or classes.
• 2.5-foot Play Parachute: at 30″ in diameter with four handles, this size is ideal for one-on-one sessions or small groups of 3-4 people.

The smaller and more manageable size allows you to have all of the benefits and fun of a parachute without being overstimulating. Another benefit of the smaller sizes is that you can practice and target specific skills for individuals more easily than you could with a large parachute and a large class, while still making it a fun group activity.

A few of the benefits of parachute play are:

• Gross motor skills
• Coordination and balance
• Teamwork
• Social interaction
• Listening and following directions
• Cognitive skills
• Rhythm

For some song and activity ideas to pair with the 5-foot play parachute, check out this blog post: Best Parachute Activities and Songs. 

Cleaning Your Play Parachute:

Bear Paw Creek’s parachutes can be machine-washed on a gentle cycle with cold or lukewarm water and mild detergent. Avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach or fabric softeners, as these may cause discoloration and damage over time.

Air-dry the parachute or use a low heat setting in the dryer to prevent damage; never iron. Our preferred method is air drying! Our parachutes come with a drawstring storage bag; the drawstring bag can also be machine-washed following the same instructions.

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• The board book My Many Colored Days, by Dr. Seuss.
• IDEAS Music Color CD
• Group includes: 20 durable 25” square, washable nylon scarves – 2 of each of the following 11 colors: red, orange, yellow, kelly green, royal blue, purple, brown, pink,  grey, black. One for each hand, or enough for an early childhood class. 
  
• Small Kit: 10 – 25″ creative movement scarves of each color above.
  

• Use the kit to reinforce:Color Recognition.
  Reading Books.
  Identifying and Exploring Mood.
  Creating Movement to Match Music.
  Starting and Stopping–Motor Control.
  Joyful Times Spent with Parents, Teachers, Caregivers, Books, Music, and Movement.How?Read the book to your child(ren).
  Discuss how the gray tulle scarves look, feel and flow differently than the other scarves. How this color relates to the story – “(gray)…does not move.”
  Explore the scarf colors. Move them through space. Make air pathways with them, then walk and turn with the scarves.
  Read the story again, moving the matching scarf to the music for each page.
  Switch colors and repeat this activity on many days.
  Play the complete music pieces for longer movement experiences.
  Play dress up, and dress up stuffed animals with scarves. Be sure to say the scarf color when it is chosen.Now make up new ways to use the book, scarves, and music! Its all inside of you!

CD Track List
Excerpts to go with Book Reading:

1. Different Colored Days
2. Red (Wild Horseman, Schumann)
3. Blue
4. Brown
5. Yellow
6. Gray
7. Orange
8. Green
9. Purple
10. Pink (Chinese Dance, Tchaikovsky)
11. Black
12. Mixed Up
13. Different Colored Days

Complete Selections:

14. Contrasts, Jensen (Different Colored Days)
15. Rondeau, Bach (Blue)
16. The Elephant, Saint-Saëns (Brown)
17. Flight of the Bumblebee, Rimsky-Korsakov (Yellow)
18. The Entertainer, Joplin (Orange)
19. Air, Bach (Green)
20. Moonlight Sonata, Beethoven (Purple)
21. Russian Sailors’ Dance, Gliére (Black)
22. Batik, Worsley (Mixed Up)

The post My Many Colored Dance Literacy Kit with Music and Scarves appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

These brightly colored chiffon scarves provide visual and kinesthetic reinforcement as they move through space with beautiful and flowing movement. They reinforce concepts of shape, size, colors, and space. They allow for active participation and hands on learning. Creative movement chiffon scarves allow exploration of musical phrase, melodic direction and mood. They are an open-ended tool of infinite possibility, limited only by the user.

Ideas and Inspiration for Chiffon Scarves:

• Dance to the music, using the flowing scarf movement to interpret it
• Use for costumes.
• Use for puppet show scenery.
• Use as a play surface: blue=water, white=snow, green=grass, etc.
• Dress up stuffed animal or doll.
• Learn to juggle.
• Twist to learn how to braid.
• Cover a table for a tea party.
• Write letters, numbers, and shapes in the air with the scarves.
• Name the colors of the scarves.Learn how to fold and put them away.
• For movement, especially for music with long, flowing phrases.
• To create a visual representation of a mood in non-metered poetry.
• Dance, play, smile, imagine, and enjoy the scarves and each other.

Color and size choices below for creative movement chiffon scarves.

15″ – $2.00               25″ –  $4              36″ – $7               50″ – $10

• red
• pink
• orange
• yellow
• kelly green
• lime green
• royal blue
• medium blue
• purple
• lavender
• white
• black

9 Foot Canopies – $35

• red
• royal
• white
• black
• pink
• lavender

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The DiscoverDance Early Childhood Program was founded in 2017 by dance educator, Andrea Trench. The program offers studio owners and teachers conceptual based dynamic movement lesson plans, marketing materials, music playlists, and videos of class activities for ages 5 and under. Since launching, DiscoverDance can be found in dance studios in Costa Rica, Greece, Australia, Canada, and across the United States.

Hoop Ribbon Streamers in DiscoverDance colors!  You will receive a set of 6 hoop streamers with 24″ long ribbons on 4″ polycarbonate hoops in a drawstring bag.  $30

DiscoverDance Square Bean Bag Set includes 12 bean bags and a storage bag.  $28

Two of each color:  Fuchsia, Orange, Yellow, Lime Green, Turquoise, Purple

This DiscoverDance scarf set includes thirteen 24″x 24″ unhemmed chiffon scarf squares. It includes a mesh storage bag with one white teacher/leader scarf and two each of: Fuchsia, Orange, Yellow, Lime Green, Turquoise, Purple

$48

The DiscoverDance Balloon Ball is a fabric ball that has a slit in the bottom to place a 12″ balloon into it and blow it up!  These are great for packing along and also make playing with a balloon much safer.

$20

DiscoverDance Connect-a-Stretchy Band is 6 feet long. This allows for you to use this dynamic movement prop straight or buckle it together into a circle. Two of these buckled together equal one medium stretchy band.  These are also fantastic for those that facilitate different group sizes.  Two pack:  MSRP $60

Get the complete DiscoverDance and Bear Paw Creek Movement Prop Set Bundled Together.

Includes the following:

• 2 DD Connect-a-Stretchy Bands
• 12 DD Bean Bags
• DD Scarf Set of 13
• One DD Balloon Ball
• Set of 6 DD Hoop Rainbow Ribbon Streamers
• DD Conceptual Coloring Pages Pack

MSRP $160    Your Price: $130

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Originally we had a Music Therapist request a soft carrying case for her guitar and since she is a professor at a local college, she wanted it to be wearable on her back.  We are happy to have helped with the solution!

This music therapist gig bag is made out of 1000 denier fabric with 1/4″ foam.  The guitar bag features a handle on the side and also shoulder straps, backpack design, for easy carrying. It also features a pocket to carry the strap, picks, or other small items in.  This case fits the guitar shape and offers great protection.

These bags are handmade in Missouri.

Make sure to check out our pick pocket that can be used on the strap to carry your guitar picks in.

The post Soft Carrying Gig Bag for the Martin Backpacker Guitar appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

This music movement prop set was inspired by the release of Listen & Learn’s “Songs for Movement Props” and the songs were inspired by Bear Paw Creek’s products!  Don’t you love how connections and relationships work like that?  We all benefit from it! This package is the perfect way to start some music and movement with children, or add to your already existing program.

• Small Set for up to 6 children = 1 connect-a-stretchy band, 6 square bean bags, balloon ball, and set of 6 chiffon movement scarves
•  Medium set for up to 12 children = 2  connect-a-stretchy bands, 12 square bean bags, balloon ball, and set of 13 chiffon movement scarves
• Large set for up to 18 children = 3 connect-a-stretchy bands, 18 square bean bags, balloon ball, and set of 19 chiffon movement scarves
• XL set for up to 24 children = 4 connect-a-stretchy bands, 24 square bean bags, balloon ball, and set of 25 chiffon movement scarves
• If you have larger groups, please reach out to us and we can customize your order: info@BearPawCreek.com

The songbook is made up of 4 sections, one for each of the different movement props for which the songs were written. Refer to the description page at the beginning of each section for implementation ideas, or feel free to come up with your own!

Songs include:

• “Stretch in the Morning”
• “In a Circle”
• “‘Round the Rainbow”
• “Grow Flower Grow”
• “Movin’ in the Circle”
• “I Have a Beanbag”
• “Beanbag in My Hand”
• “Bop Bop the Balloon Ball”
• “I Have a Balloon Ball”
• “See the Scarf”
• “Colors of the Rainbow”
• “We’re Gonna Wave”

This songbook includes not only the lyrics and chords for each song, but also recordings and song directions. We wanted to make it as easy as possible for you to begin including these songs in your own classes and sessions!

Click here if want order the music directly from Listen & Learn.

The post Listen & Learn Music Movement Prop Set appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

These hubs are designed to be used with Bear Paw Creek’s connect-a-stretchy band.  This is the newest addition to our stretchy band family for music games and learning.  It opens creative movement doors wide open with the various ways you can use the hub with the connect-a-stretchy band.  It is available in 6, 8, 10, and 12 buckles.

One inch strapping with alternating 1 inch buckles are sewn into a round leather disc with a grommet circle.

Hub 6- $18         Hub 8 – $22       Hub 10- $26     Hub 12 –  $30

Hub 8 pictured below with four connect-a-stretchy bands buckled into it. This makes a four armed prop.

You can connect a band to each buckle, making a 6, 8, 10 or 12 armed octopus, star or sun or turn them into a spoked wheel, a gear, flowers or clovers.

Remember, the Connect-a-Bands can be connected to create a medium (2), large (3),  XL (4), or more!

The post Connect-a-Band Hubs appeared first on Bear Paw Creek.

We are no longer creating our jingles on the wrist scrunchie.  We loved to make these and offer them but were running into some quality issues. Cheap bells didn’t wear our the ribbon attachment and the better quality bells would break through the ribbon after many uses in a clinic setting. So….for now we are offering the jingle bells on wrist bands. In our standard full disclosure, they are not made by us, but sourced from a different manufacturer.

MSRP: $3 each or a set of 6 in a storage bag for $15.00.  Colors will vary to availability. When ordering multiple sets, please indicate how many drawstring storage bags you would like! 

Jingle Bells on Wrist Scrunchie– 6 for $30

(September 2019 ~ we are excited to announce that we have finally found superior quality, Made in the USA, since 1832 jingle bells!  Our other jingles were recently put through the testing ground in daily use and found lacking.  These bells are made by Bevin Brothers and are much heavier and have a beautiful sound.)

Introducing jingle bells on a wrist scrunchie!  Another great product that can be used in so many ways. Use them for individuals with grasping issues, place them on body parts for movement and dance, focus on motor strength, eye tracking, and more. Sold in a set of six with drawstring bag for storage.

Place them on our new connect-a-stretchy band matching up or contrasting colors while working on motor skills: putting them over the band, sliding, pulling, and moving them into place.

Here  are just a few of the great song/ideas to use with the jingle bells.

Check out Listen Learn Music’s Blog about Bear Paw Creek’s Wrist Jingle Bells with songs.

Ryan Judd of The Rhythm Tree released this awesome video showcasing the benefits of using rhythm sticks and jingle bells.

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