Week 4

Village: Cock-a-doodle-MOO!

Babies need learning experiences that stimulate all their senses. The “On the Farm” activity is a wonderful example of tapping into multi-sensory learning—touching the puppet, watching the puppet, listening to the music and animal sounds, making animal sounds, and moving like animals to the music. Research shows that participating in an activity, such as “On the Farm” activates several senses at the same time, making a number of neural brain connections at once. Multi-sensory learning makes the most lasting impression and with repetition the brain connections are strengthened.

Take the musical farm home this week! Liven up diaper time by making an animal sound and then waiting for your little one to imitate you. This back and forth barnyard talk could be the extra ingredient needed to divert an upset or cranky baby who doesn’t want to be changed.

Our Time: Away We Go!

Toddlers love to go, but toddlers also need to learn how to stop, which is good for quiet time, taking turns, sharing, and being safe. Learning to stop in the middle of a fun activity gives your busy toddler a chance to learn what we call inhibitory control, or the ability to control her actions.

The sudden “stop” in the middle of bouncing, walking, or running teaches self-control through fun, active play. It’s fun and full of giggles, but you know the real secret: she’s getting ready to follow directions in school, wait for her turn, and more.

Imagine That!: Toys I Make-Trips I Take

Imagination and creativity can do almost anything.

That’s why in class we made our own instruments. For a preschooler, the ability to create her own instrument gives her a sense of accomplishment and pride. She uses her own unique ideas—her creativity—and solves problems by herself.
Playing her instrument in front of others lets her express herself in a safe, supportive environment. She also practices being a good friend and listener to others. In our wonderful band, she experiences the joy of making music together—that’s powerful learning from something as simple as an empty oatmeal container and beans.

Young Child 2:

The journey to music literacy is a step by step process, and the children are enjoying each and every step along the way! Today they discovered how note heads on the music staff connect with rhythmic symbols (ta and ti-ti) to make complete music notes! They also discovered how bar lines help organize music notes on the staff.

To ensure that the symbolic aspects of music stay entertaining, we incorporated lots of singing games and movement in today’s class with a Lucy Locket partner dance and a lively circle game to Mouse, Mousie.

At home this week, enjoy helping your child locate notes on the music staff (Activity Page 1b) and play the glockenspiel. Please take note of the information at the bottom of Music at Home 19 that explains the process of playing melodies from musical memory.


Young Child 4:

Last week the children were able to hear the difference in two pitches on the recorder. Today we focused on hearing and recognizing a rhythmic pattern. The children became familiar with four different rhythmic patterns by saying and clapping them as well as by playing them on rhythm sticks. Then I sang a song that used one of those patterns over and over. Using their listening skills, they were able to identify the “correct” rhythm pattern.

The development of listening skills can affect your child’s life in many ways by building the ability to appreciate of music, understand verbal directions, recognize sounds of caution, enjoy the sounds of nature, participate in a conversation, and more. Kindermusik provides the opportunity for your child to broaden and expand upon skills used daily!