Rachel Griffin Accurso, aka Ms. Rachel of Songs for Littles, is liked by each kids and oldsters. Why? She’s enjoyable and gives high quality display screen time. Critically.
Picture Courtesy of Rachel Griffin
I spent final weekend alternating between marching across the kitchen with my youngsters like dinosaurs, blowing fake bubbles of icky, sticky bubble gum, and taking little breaks to observe their favourite present: Songs for Littles. And in the event you’ve obtained youngsters below 4 you in all probability did the identical.
Rachel Griffin Accurso, aka the overalls-wearing Ms. Rachel, is the star of YouTube’s Songs for Littles. The present is immensely common, and for good cause—each kids and their caregivers are obsessive about the quality screen time. As a mother of a 4-year-old and 20-month-old, I do know I certain am.
The Songs for Littles neighborhood—making up over 2.4 million subscribers on YouTube, 234,000 followers on Instagram, and 1.9 million followers on TikTok—don’t have anything however reward for the musically-inclined educator, even going as far as to credit score her with getting their youngsters to speak. Critically, the feedback left for the YouTube sensation sound like rave critiques for a speech therapist:
I can’t thanks sufficient for the reward that’s listening to my little man say “mama.” You’ve given our household a lot to have fun.
After our son turned a 12 months previous, his physician raised issues about his speech. My son went from having difficulties with the start of his speech growth and after watching you for per week, he began to be taught to speak.
My two 12 months previous has speech delays and watching you has helped her greater than something! She has bloomed a lot watching you and her vocabulary grows every day.
Ms. Rachel, you’re a nationwide treasure.
However who precisely is Ms. Rachel, why are so many mother and father giving her the stamp of approval, and the way did Songs for Littles skyrocket in recognition? Right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know.
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Who Is Ms. Rachel on Songs for Littles?
The educator and songwriter
Rachel Griffin Accurso is the educator and songwriter behind Ms. Rachel and Songs for Littles. After rising up in Maine, Accurso moved to New York Metropolis in 2009 the place she now resides together with her husband, Aron Accurso—the Affiliate Music Director of Broadway’s Aladdin who, spoiler alert, additionally voices Herbie the puppet—and their 4-year-old son.
Since receiving her grasp’s diploma in music training from New York College, Accurso has studied speech growth, early childhood growth, and early intervention, and is even engaged on a second diploma in early childhood training.
“I attempt to be taught all I can and skim a whole lot of analysis about younger kids so our present is knowledgeable by analysis and greatest practices,” says Accurso. “My ardour and calling are to assist younger kids and their households, so I be taught all I can to do that to one of the best of my skill.”
The relatable working father or mother
Whereas Accurso’s face is extra recognizable today, she’s not a lot completely different than the mother and father who’re watching her with their households. In a recent TikTok, she spoke on to her father or mother followers in regards to the battle that’s elevating little people, how unattainable the juggle will be, and why caregivers ought to ditch the guilt about filling their very own buckets with what makes them joyful. Even when that is one other cup of espresso.
“I seen that if I had a while to do work I used to be obsessed with, I got here again to my son extra refreshed, energetic, and as a a lot better playmate and mother than if I used to be unfold skinny and with him each minute,” she says. “I positively don’t steadiness it and am all the time ingesting espresso and freaking out. However I’m fortunate to have my son at an important faculty which supplies me time to work and I’ve an extremely concerned, supportive husband.”
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How Did Songs for Littles Begin?
Accurso has all the time been obsessed with music and instructing—she feels strongly that “all kids have entry to top quality early childhood training”—however it was her personal youngster who impressed Songs for Littles.
“My son had a speech delay and I used to be on the lookout for something doable to assist him,” explains Accurso. “I believed it could be nice if there was a present for toddlers that inspired speech; one thing gradual paced, very interactive, and taught by an actual individual. Once I couldn’t discover a present like that, I believed perhaps we might create one.”
So Accurso, who was instructing child and toddler music courses in-person on the time, pivoted to the YouTube present we see now—filmed and edited from her one-bedroom New York Metropolis condominium.
Who Makes Up Ms. Rachel’s Forged?
“Each youngster deserves to see themselves within the exhibits they watch,” says Accurso. It’s an honor to have this platform, and we’re lucky to have the ability to use it to herald so many gifted creators and performers. We’re dedicated to creating certain that youngsters and their households who watch our present really feel included and celebrated.”
Here is who you and your youngsters are watching on the high-quality present:
Aron Accurso
When he is not engaged on Broadway’s Aladdin, Ms. Rachel’s real-life husband, Aron Accurso, creates preparations, underscores the present, edits, and places Songs for Littles collectively. Any Herbie followers on the market? Mr. Accurso additionally handles the entire puppets on the present.
Jules Hoffman
Chances are high in the event you’ve obtained a Ms. Rachel fan in your arms then you definately’ve additionally obtained an enormous Jules fan at house. Jules, a New York Metropolis-based singer and songwriter, stars in most Songs for Littles episodes, and has been working with Accurso since her music class days.
“I really put an advert on Craigslist for a co-teacher for in-person child and toddler music courses I used to be instructing on the time,” says Accurso. “Jules noticed the advert and solely answered that one advert. I solely interviewed Jules as a result of I actually appreciated their electronic mail and songwriting pattern. It was meant to be!”
Supporting forged and employees
Songs for Littles followers can even thank Beth Jean for the present’s animation and edits, Natalie Kaye Clater for among the tunes you’ll be able to’t get out of your head, and numerous associates of the Accursos from Aladdin.
Does Songs for Littles Assist Children Discuss?
Some mother and father swear that watching Ms. Rachel with their youngster made a huge effect on their child’s language development—however does Songs for Littles actually assist youngsters studying to speak? Most likely.
When her son was working by means of a speech delay, Accurso discovered all the things she might from his speech therapists and from researching on her personal. No marvel speech-language therapists are fans of Songs for Littles, too.
“I used to be up late at evening attempting to find out about speech and the way I might greatest assist him,” she says. “I took many trainings and programs and skim a lot of books. We additionally discovered rather a lot by means of having him in early intervention.”
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And never solely does Accurso credit score music’s skill to assuage and train youngsters, however she says songs with gestures additionally help with language development. Songs for Littles combines all of this, plus up-close pictures of Accurso slowly speaking and demonstrating methods to say phrases and phrases.
So for the mother and father who’ve seen their kids begin talking or having language explosions since watching Ms. Rachel—myself included—you are not alone, and there actually is analysis behind it.
“My coronary heart is so full,” says Accurso, who would not tire of watching the videos parents send of their children’s progress. “It’s extremely rewarding. We’re honored to be a part of kids’s lives! Kids deserve media that’s useful, joyful, and academic.”
