News

november 1, 2008

Dr. Moore Releases New DVD

"Come Sing and Dance with Us: A Dance Along and Sing Along with Dr. Thomas Moore" has just been released. Learn the Humpty Dumpty Dance, Itsy Bitsy Spider Dance and many more! Buy Now >>

 

OCTOBER 2003

Dr. Thomas Moore Receives Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana State University

Dr. Thomas Moore received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana State University during an October banquet at the university. Moore rode in the homecoming parade the following day. He was one of five alumni to receive the Distinguish Alumni honor from the university in Terre Haute, Indiana.

The Awards are presented annually to honor living alumni who have been outstanding in their professional achievements, or have made significant contributions benefitting their community, state or country.

Officials praised how Dr. Moore "has combined his talents as a musician and early childhood education scholar to become an effective leader in the field of early childhood education."

 

MAY 2002

Dr. Moore's "Humpty, Dumpty, Dumpty" book featured in The Charlotte Observer

In the May 28, 2002 issue of The Charlotte Observer, Pam Kelly writes about"Humpty, Dumpty, Dumpty," the new book by Dr. Thomas Moore and Pam Schiller: Notice anything familiar about the guy standing beside Humpty Dumpty? If you've lived in Charlotte a while, you may recognize early-childhood educator and musician Thomas Moore.

In 1986, Moore wrote a song based on the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme, but he gave his tune, "Humpty Dumpty Dumpty," a happier ending. In his version, Moore himself gets some glue, picks up the pieces and makes Humpty as good as new.

Now, the song has become a book that's part of an SRA McGraw-Hill early-childhood curriculum. Written by Moore and Pam Schiller, the book includes illustrations of Moore patching up Humpty and then dancing with children and adults to the song's chorus: "Everybody likes to Humpty Dumpty Dumpty."

 

April 2002

Dr. Moore quoted in Parents Magazine!

In the April 2002 issue of Parents, Dr. Moore talks with reporter Deborah Skolnik on how to nurture your toddler's confidence.

"A 2-year-old craves the freedom to investigate the world around her, so create a safe space where your child can play with minimal supervision," Dr. Moore advises. Stock the space with age-appropriate playthings such as dolls, pull-toys, and soft balls, plus pots, pans, and other fun household items.

Dr. Moore also encourages parents to notice their child's preferences. "Get down on the floor and let him take the lead. If he's grabbing a ball while you're reaching for a book, play with the ball."

 

April 2002

Dr. Moore quoted in The Dallas Morning News!

In the April 10th, 2002 issue of The Dallas Morning News, Dr. Moore talks with reporter Jean Nash Johnson on messages delivered by children's nursery rhymes. Here's an excerpt:

Children's recording artist and author Dr. Thomas Moore says many nursery rhymes he grew up with were rooted in Anglo-Saxon history and did not include other cultures.

His Humpty Dumpty Dumpty (McGraw Hill, available this spring) is an illustrated songbook and cassette recording in which a community comes together to fix Humpty, and the community is made up of people representing all ages and backgrounds.

"We are constantly giving children messages about the world we live in," he says. "All we think about is the brokenness [instead] of the community thinking that we can all come together to put him back together again. Also, because the king's horses and king's men were known as the experts, the message could be that we should sit back and let the experts take care of it instead of everyone picking up the pieces."

 

MARCH 2002

Dr. Moore quoted in Stars and Stripes!

In the March 2nd, 2002 issue of Stars and Stripes (US Department of Defense newspaper for overseas Military Services), Dr. Moore discusses the necessity of parents spending time with their children with reporter Ward Sanderson at the annual "mini conference" at the Child Development Center in Naples, Italy. Here's an excerpt:

By the looks of the swarm they made around him, the children took to Moore on sight. "OK guys, let's sit down a minute," he said. And without much fuss they did, and there's giggling and singing. He sings songs that help them identify something - find a boy, find your teeth. "If you're happy and you know it, rub your tummy - yummy, yummy!" The children don't need any coaxing to yell out the "Yummy! Yummy!"

No, it's not Mozart. But the children are hearing rhythms and rhymes and anticipating words and associating those words with things. Moore, also a musician, said parents need to spend more time with their children. He said a child will always remember Mom or Dad singing with them, and no high-tech distraction can replace that.

Parents are often too busy to bother, he said. "That's one of the reasons computer sales are up so high with young children. Parents think they can give them a head start…but a lot of times they aren't developing socially. A lot of times, parents are thinking, 'computers' when they don't even know who their children really are. …If you want your child to have an advantage, sing 'Rubber Ducky.'"

The key to getting a child's attention and respect takes work and even humility. Parents can't be authoritarian and remote, he said. "I can't impress kids with my degrees, I can't impress kids with where I've been," he said. "It's how I relate to them that's important."

Get on your knees with them, he advised. Talk. Play. Sing. "I'm so excited about this profession," Moore said, smiling. "It's often overlooked, what we do."

"We're the beginning. Whether it be a colonel or a president, there was someone who went on their knees with them."