Colombian Culture, Colombia Adoption and Raising Colombian Kids

In an continuing attempt to provide you with more resources to use while teaching your kids about Colombia and Colombian culture, here is yet another song that you can teach. It is so very repetative that it should be easy to learn. Debajo del botón ton ton (Underneath the button) que encontró Martín tin tin (that was found by Martin) había un ratón ton ton (there was a mouse) ay que chiquitín tin tin (oh that little one) Ay que chiquitín tin tin había un ratón ton ton que encontró Martín tin tin debajo del botón ton ton You can hear the song here: http://www.banrepcultural.org/blaavirtual/ninos/trestambores/images/debajodelboton.mp3

You want your child to hold your hand while walking down the street. This is not always an easy task. So, you may want to try using this great Colombian rhyme. You chant it while linking arms and skipping. The words are as follows: Dos Caballitos de dos en dos (Two little horses two by two) Alzan las patas y dicen adiós ( Lift up their legs and say goodbye) Adiós Mamá, Adiós Papá, (Goodbye Mamá, goodbye papa) me voy para Bogotá. (I am headed for Bogotá)

In honor of Mother's Day, I give you a post about the most motherly of all songs, the Lullaby... "Quieres Arrurru?" My sister-in-law asks her toddler, and moments later her child goes down for a nap. What is the magic of Arrurru? It is the typical sleepy time lullaby sung my mothers in Colombia. Here is how it goes, though I must add that many people only sing the first four lines rather than all eight: Arrurru mi nino (nina) Lull to sleep my son (daughter) Que tengo que hacer. I have stuff to do . Lavar los panales Wash the diapers Y hacer de comer. And make something to eat Matar la gallina Kill the hen Y echarla a coser. And put it to cook. Llamarle a su padre Call your father Que venga a comer. To come and eat. I know of at least one family whose referral documents stated that the child, and I quote, "Loves to go to bed with a song. His favorite is Arrurru." VARIATIONS: One other note, there are some variations on this song depending on the region of Colombi...

This is a very common song, often sung through out the Spanish speaking world. You can play a "Duck Duck Goose" type game while singing this song. There are a few variations -- typically who the singer wants to marry -- be it a widow from the capital ( viudita de la capital) or a young woman from the capital ( señorita de la capital) or even an old woman from the capital ( viejita de la capital). The song that you can listen to below uses the young woman. There are also variations as to the things the woman knows how to do. The fact that she knows how to sew and embroider is pretty universal, however, the last thing listed has multiple versions. Here are the lyrics for the song that you can click on below: Arroz con leche Rice pudding Me quiero casar I want to get married Con una señorita To a young single woman de la capital From the capital Que sepa coser That knows how to sew Que sepa bordar That knows how to embroider Que sepa abrir la puerta T...

When my oldest son was 3 years old, we took him to Colombia to visit his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was stunned to see soldiers and guards with machine guns everywhere. We even were stopped at a check point guarded by a large menacing tank. He got such a kick out of the whole thing that everytime he saw a soldier, he would yell, "Hola Soldado" from the window. The shocked soldiers would smile, laugh at him, and wave. So, this song is for anyone with a son, who like mine, loves soldiers. You are in a unique position to totally appreciate it. (Might I also point out that you can change the name Juan to any munchkin's name.) Arriba Juan, arriba Juan Get up John, get up John ya cantó el gallito. the little rooster has already crowed Ay no mamá, ay no mamá, Oh no, mom, oh no, mom, es muy tempranito. it is really early. Arriba Juan, arriba Juan, Get up John, get up John hay que ir a la escuela. you have to go to school. Ay no mamá, ay no mamá, Oh no, mom, oh n...

It has been a while since I have posted a song that you could teach your child, but there are a few more you should know. This one includes a portion, though not all, of the alphabet. It can be sung in a round. El patio de mi casa es particular, The patio of my house is very special si llueve se moja, como los demás. if it rains, it gets wet, just like all the others. Agáchate niña, vuélvete a agachar, Crouch down little girl, crouch down again. que si no te agachas no aprendes a bailar. because if you don't crouch down you won't learn how to dance. Hache, i, jota, ka, ele, eme, ene, o, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O que si tú no me quieres, otro amigo me querrá. if you don't like me, another friend will like me. Hache, i, jota, ka, ele, eme, ene, o, H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O que si tú no me quieres, otro amigo tendré yo. if you don't like me, I will make another friend. Listen to the song by clicking here: http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/ninos/encoche/canciones/el-patio-de-mi-casa.m...

In this game, you need several people (6-10) about 3 years and older. Before the game begins you pick 2 children to be the "bridge". Then, these two children each secretly decide what color or fruit or animal they want to be. To make it simple let's use colors -- one child picks blue the other green -- the two children know each other's color, but the rest of the group should not know the colors. You are ready to begin the game. The two bridge children hold hands and raise them up to form a bridge. The other children stand in a straight line ready to go under the bridge. Then you begin singing the following song and the children pass under the bridge then run around to get in line again. The kids continue to pass under the bridge until the last line of the song. El puente está quebrado. (The bridge is broken) Con que lo curaremos? (How will we fix it?) Con casacara de huevo (With egg shells) Burritos al potrero (Donkeys to the pasture) Que pase el rey (Let the Ki...

Here is another little children's song. As usual there seems to be a lot of varie ty in the lyrics. I have heard at least 5 different versions of this song. All very similar, but here are the lyrics to the version I heard first in Colombia. This is also the version I found in the music of the Colombian National Library -- Luis Angel Arango. Los pollos de mi cazuela (the chickens in my pot) No sirven para comer, (aren't any good to eat) Si no para a las viuditas (if the widows do not stop) Que los saben componer (the ones that know how to fix them) Se le hecha ají y cebolla (Add garlic and onion) Hojitas de laurel; ( and Bay leaves) Se sacan de la cazuela (You take it out of the pot) Cuando se van a comer. (When you are going to eat them) Componte niña componte, (Fix it, little girl, fix it) Que ahí viene tu marinero, (Because here comes your navy man) Con ese bonito traje (with his handsome suit) Que parece un carnicero; (that makes him look like a butcher) Yo soy la...

Here is a cute little children's song, that would be particularly great if you child is from Barranquilla. Here are the lyrics: De Barranquilla (from Barranquilla) De Barranquilla (from Barranquilla) Llegó un papel (arrived a paper) Que me casara (that I should get married) Que me casara (that I should get married) No sé con quien (I don't know to whom) Casáte conmigo (Marry me) Casáte conmigo (Marry me) Que yo te daré (because I will give you) Zapatos y medias (shoes and socks) Zapatos y medias (shoes and socks) Color de café (the color brown) Repeat Here is a link where you can hear the song: http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/ninos/cantar/debarran.mp3

This is a classic children's song. Again, there seem to be word variations in the lyrics depending on which Spanish speaking country you are from. However, this is the version that was taught to me by my Colombian relatives. Tengo una muñeca vestida de azul (I have a little doll dressed in blue) Zapatitos blancos , delantal de tul (Little white shoes, an apron of tulle) La llevé a paseo , Y se me constipó (I took her for a walk, and she got congested) La pusé en la cama con mucho dolor (I put her in bed in a lot of pain) Y esta mañanita me dijo el doctor (Early this morning the doctor told me) Que le dé el jarabe con un tenedor (To give her cough syrup with a fork.) Dos y dos son cuatro (Two plus two is four) Cuatro y dos son seis (Four plus two is six) Seis y dos son ocho (Six plus two is eight) Y ocho diez y seis (Plus eight is sixteen) Y ocho vienticuatro (Plus eight is twenty-four) Y ocho treinta y dos (Plus eight is thirty-two) Ánimas ...

One of the classic children’s songs of all Latin America, including Colombia is Los Pollitos. It is perhaps one of the first songs that little children will learn, and everyone knows it. In the recording industry, there are as many versions of this song as there are different stars with their own Christmas albums. Some versions are lullaby-like, some are faster. Some versions have children singing, some have adults. You can hear many versions on Itunes, look up Los Pollitos. My favorites are by: Juan José Carranza on Dream Songs, Night Songs Juan González y Banda Criolla on Caribbean Fiesta for Kids You can hear the song and see a cartoon at the following site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTApI_rUZ2E&feature=related There are also differences in the lyrics to the song. Here is the version my Colombian sister-in-law taught me: Los Pollitos dicen: Pío, pío, pío (The little chicks say: cheep, cheep, cheep) Cuando tienen hambre (When they are hungry) Cuando tienen frío (When the...

Here is another kid's song. This one is about a milk cow. The song was actually written by a man from Spain, Jacobo Morcillo, and is popular there also. In the song, you will see the word condensada -- which means condensed -- as in condensed milk. In other Spanish speaking countries they say merengada . Most of the recorded versions that I have heard use Merengada and not Condensada . But, my Sister-in-law insists that it is CONDENSADA in Colombia. Tengo una vaca lechera . (I have a milk cow.) No es una vaca cualquiera . (It isn't just any cow.) Me da leche condensada . (She gives me condensed milk.) Ay ! que vaca tan salada ! (Wow! What a salty cow!) tolón , tolón , tolón , tolón . Un cencerro le he comprado . (I've bought her a cowbell.) Y a mi vaca le ha gustado . (And this has pleased my cow.) Se pasea por el prado . (She goes for a walk in the pasture.) Mata moscas con el rabo . (She kills flies with her tail.) Tolón , tolón , Tolón , t...

Back in the 1997, my husband and I were visiting friends in Bogotá, when their then 3 year old boy came out and wanted to play the "Caballito." His father patiently excused himself, put on a CD and began to dance with his son. The song, by pop and vallenato singing star Carlos Vives, is a great participation song. Kids get to act like the wooden horse, limping, galloping, crouching down, freezing, etc. throughout the song. It is really fun! Give it a try, but WARNING, it is really fast, so get ready to sweat a bit. You can watch the video and get the idea, then try it out at home. I found several places where you can download it for free, but it is not available at Itunes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U3r5XR6s_o Se encojó, se encojó (He grew lame, he grew lame) Se encojó mi caballito. (My little horse grew lame.) Mi caballo de madera (My wooden stick horse) Mi juguete más bonito (My most beautiful toy) Se le ha dañado una pata (Damaged a leg) Y se encojó mi caballito...

In all countries, there are traditional children's games. Here in the U.S., what child doesn't know the words to Ring Around the Rosie? Who hasn't, at some point, joined hands with family or friends and sung the words and then laughing fallen down? Guess what? Colombia has it's own version of Ring Around the Rosie! It is called, "A la Rueda Rueda." Now, I know that this is familiar in Venezuela and Spain, but the versions that I have heard from both countries are slightly different from the Colombian version I have learned. So, I now share with you the words, and below -- a video of the song and actions. A la rueda rueda, (All around the circle) de pan y canela, (of bread and cinnamon) dame un besito (give me a little kiss) vete pa' la escuela, (take yourself to school) si no quieres ir, (if you don't want to go) acuéstate a dormir. (lie down and go to sleep). Inevitably, there is a chorus of "Otra Vez" (one more time) or "Más...