Hailing from Biddeford, Maine, Rachel Griffin found her passion for education at Sanford High School and further honed her skills at the University of Southern Maine. Holding a master’s degree in music education from New York University, she initially worked as a music teacher at a NYC preschool.
In 2019, Rachel and her husband Aron Accurso launched her YouTube channel, “Songs for Littles,” an inspiring response to the lack of resources for her speech-delayed son. This series combines timeless children’s songs and original toddler-friendly music, with a strong focus on language development milestones and inclusivity, drawing inspiration from her son’s early childhood intervention therapist.
The channel’s popularity skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, garnering over three million subscribers as of 2023. The show’s diverse cast, including actress and teacher Keisha Gilles, consultant Alexa Smith, speech therapist Frida Matute, and more, showcases Rachel’s dedication to inclusiveness.
Her husband, Aron, contributes music arrangements and operates two beloved puppet characters, Georgie and Herbie. Rachel also made a mark on TikTok under the moniker Ms Rachel, amassing over two and a half million followers. She took a brief hiatus in February 2023, citing mental health reasons.
The break raised discussions due to a backlash regarding co-star Jules Hoffman’s pronoun use. Nonetheless, she returned to TikTok, and the success of “Songs for Littles” led to a signing with Creative Artists Agency, solidifying Rachel’s impactful journey.
Does Ms Rachel have a son?
Meet Rachel, the dynamic preschool teacher who transforms into the beloved Ms Rachel on the YouTube channel “Songs for Littles,” an internet sensation for children aged 4 and under. Inspired by her son’s speech delay, Rachel passionately fosters language development and letter recognition through her engaging content. She started this for her son who was diagnosed with speech delay, “His first word was at 2 years and 8 months, and it was ‘mama,’ and I had waited for that for so long,”
This heartfelt show is a collaborative effort, produced by Rachel and her Broadway composer husband, Aron, from their one-bedroom apartment turned recording studio. Fueled by the desire to provide what was lacking for their son, they embarked on creating an interactive, slow-paced, and expert-backed program. With over 2 million YouTube subscribers, “Songs for Littles” has become a hit, resonating with parents and speech professionals alike.
Rachel’s teaching strategy in her music videos is brilliantly simple and incredibly effective for young learners. She employs close-ups of her mouth to aid word learning, strategically pauses for audience responses, and employs sign language and body movements to encourage communication. Rachel’s dedication to her son’s needs led to a show that is not only impactful but warmly embraced by a wide audience, making her a cherished figure in the world of early childhood education. She has only one son.
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