How the Toddler's Motor Skills are Affected by the Arts Part 3 of a 4 Part Series

Toddlers are not only becoming aware of their bodies but are gaining control and learning about its potential and its limits

• Toddlers, through moving, learn how to walk, run, climb, sit, balance, kick, throw, draw--they learn about how they affect objects and their own bodies, they learn about distance and speed, and force
• Climbing over, under, and through objects develops motor skills and problem-solving skills as well as physics and science concepts (cause and effect; distance, force etc.)
• Large muscles develop before small muscles
• Active play improves ability to make judgments, to deal with frustration, provides a sense of accomplishment
• Motor development is the most visible source of self-appraisal--it is easy to see what one can DO, and that they are doing it better than before

Provide opportunities to run, crawl, play with balls and other tools, as well as times to sit (controlled muscles). Space and obstacles/challenges builds problem-solving abilities

• Provide not only space to explore, but also the proper skills to interact with objects
• Build a mountain of pillows for climbing --it's safe, it's soft, it's fun
• Give them buckets, trays, and cups and lots of beans and rice (etc.) to pick up (supervised of course)--building small motor skills
• Provide a bag of rags and a ball; let them play with the rags, dumping and tossing them everywhere; have them get the ball without stepping on the rags and returning it to the bag; help them put the bags back in the bag (in/out; sensory; motor control). They will love to do this over and over again (as they do all activities)
• Decorate a plastic container to look like a bird or animal; have toddlers tear (or use scissors if they are ready) to make little pieces of paper to "Feed the bird"
• Provide beanbags for tossing and for balancing on their shoulders, arms, hands, head, knees
• Make a bowling set out of pop bottles and a newspaper ball
• Create an obstacle course out of old shirt sleeves by sewing up one end and placing old squeaky toys inside-- let them crawl or walk on the train of sleeves, finding the object inside and making it squeak
• Have a 'pocket dance' where the children dance with their hands in the pockets: great upper body motions involved in this

MUSIC AND MOTOR SKILLS:
Given the rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic patterns inherent in music, musical stimuli is an effective external
timekeeper and means to structure functional movement on a variety of levels. In particular, rhythm acts as an
“entrainment” stimulus to cue patterned movements such as walking. Additionally, pitch patterns can simulate
and cue spatial positions, while harmonic patterns cue force and strength. Below are classroom-tested tips to

Use of Rhythmic Instruments
Musical instruments can be used as a motivating way to encourage grasp/release, bilateral integration, eyehand coordination, crossing midline, cause & effect skills, and basic motor imitation. Instruments with both a high visual appeal and a pleasing auditory sound will be most effective to encourage sustained participation.

Strategies include:

• Holding an instrument across midline and having the student reach with the opposite hand to produce a sound.
• Using instruments that require mallets, such as drum or woodblock to improve functional grasp.
• Mallets can be adapted with built-up handles or Velcro to assist.
• Using smaller rhythm instruments such as finger cymbals, castanets, or a mini-keyboard to target fine motor skills.
• Placing a highly preferred instrument at a distance and having the student walk the specified distance or reach to obtain the instrument.
• Having the student play an instrument to the beat for the duration of a song in order to sustain purposeful movement or increase strength.

Music and Handwriting
For pre-writing activities, engage students in free drawing while listening to a fast or slow piece of music, trying to match the drawing to the music style and pace.  For students who are writing but are difficult to motivate, provide them the lyrics to their favorite song to copy; allowing them to sing or listen to the song as a reward when completed.
 
Use of Recorded Music or Singing
In addition to music’s ability to increase motivation for movement, research also supports rhythm as an efective timekeeper to structure movement and increase coordination.  Rhythmic music at a pace appropriate for the student’s motor skills can be used during gait training (walking) or other patterned movement activities in which the student is encouraged to move with the beat.

• Calming music, or the student’s preferred music can be used as a distractor during challenging or non-preferred motor tasks during which the student typically displays frustration or anxiety.
• Theme Songs can be used to pair with various motor tasks for a play-based approach. For example, a Beach Boys surfing song could be played while the student is standing on a bolster, or“Row Your Boat” could be sung while a student is rocking back and forth.

Notes from: http://www.childrenspublishing.com/TIL_Motor_CP.pdf

How Music Helps Children Learn

Music is a natural part of life for toddlers. They might sing to their stuffed animals, tap their feet to the rhythm of nursery rhymes, and enjoy the sound of their parents singing to them — even if mom and dad can't quite carry a tune.

But this early introduction to music does more than entertain. It can kickstart learning, serve as an important cue in a child's routine, and offer lifelong benefits.

Music contributes to what experts call "a rich sensory environment." This simply means exposing kids to a wide variety of tastes, smells, textures, colors, and sounds — experiences that can forge more pathways between the cells in their brains.

These neural connections will help kids in almost every area of school, including reading and math. Just listening to music can make these connections, but the biggest impact on comes if kids actively participate in musical activities.

Of course there's another reason to introduce music into your toddler's world: It's enjoyable for both of you. That will come as no surprise to parents who sing songs with their child, sway and twirl together to favorite CDs, or listen to lullabies as they rock their child to sleep.

I Got Music, I Got Rhythm
Between the ages of 1 and 3, kids respond best to music when they actively experience it. Passive listening (like in the car) is fine, but look for opportunities to get your child rocking, marching, rolling, tapping, clapping, and moving to the beat.

Share songs that go along with simple hand motions or dance moves, like The "Itsy Bitsy Spider," "The Wheels on the Bus," "Two Little Blackbirds," or the "Hokey Pokey." For younger kids, a parent's lap is a great place to put music and movement together. Have your child face you and be sure to smile as you bounce your knees to chants like "Trot, Trot to Boston" or "To Market, To Market."

If you don't know a lot of kids' songs and rhymes, you can borrow books, CDs, and DVDs from the local library. But also feel free to make it up as you go along. Create your own silly songs and hand motions. Try to use your child's name in the song or rhyme. Or just turn on some music and dance together. Show your toddler how to move with the music by twirling quickly to a fast song and swooping slowly to a song with a longer, slower beat. Introduce props like scarves, balloons, or stuffed animals to dance with.

Listen At this age, kids can sporadically keep time — you'll notice this if you give a toddler a pot and a wooden spoon and sing a song or play some music that has a steady tempo. You can encourage this by grabbing your own spoon, inviting your toddler to bang out a rhythm, and then imitating what he or she does. Extend the game by tapping a slightly more complicated rhythm and inviting your child to follow or by asking your child to tap on different surfaces — the floor, your back, a pillow — and seeing what sound these different taps make.

Music Can Teach Songs are a lot more fun than flashcards and can teach toddlers important facts and skills. For instance, singing the ABC song can help a child learn the alphabet, "This Old Man" teaches counting, and "There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly" helps with rhyming and memory.

And you can encourage creativity by singing new words to familiar tunes like "Drive, Drive, Drive Your Car" for "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" or by inserting your child's name in "Did You Ever See a Lassie?"

You're likely to find your child favoring a few songs and rhymes and wanting to hear them again and again. While this may become dull for you, your child is on to something. Repetition helps kids learn.

It's important to note that toddlers won't learn to read or understand music at this point. They won't pick up individual notes, for instance, but will experiment with different pitches. You may notice your toddler singing made-up songs that slide from high to low and back again. Usually these songs will not have a regular rhythm.

Kids this age also are learning about keeping a steady beat and making coordinated movements — skills that are critical to math and reading later on. Encourage this development by tapping the beat with your foot while you sing and by chanting simple nursery rhymes.

Adding Instruments If you'd like to introduce an instrument, keep it simple. Very young toddlers will enjoy instruments they can shake — bells, rattles, shakers, tambourines, or rain sticks. As your child gets older and a little more coordinated, try rhythm instruments that can be banged, like drums, cymbals, or xylophones.

Listen  Some 2- to 3-year-olds can use simple wind instruments, like a recorder, a pipe whistle, or a kazoo. Many companies now make musical instruments that are appropriately sized and shaped for little hands and that are safe for toddlers — check the label when you buy them.

Kids usually don't start formal instruction to learn an instrument until they're older, but you might have heard of the Suzuki method. It's geared to kids as young as 2 or 3 for the violin, but parents must be present for the lessons and involved in both the instruction and the learning process.

If your child does begin formal instruction, make sure it is with a certified instructor at a reputable school and that the instrument used is adapted for a young child. And, of course, you'll want to have reasonable expectations of how much a child can master at this young age.

Music Can Soothe Once your toddler is familiar with music, it can be a source of comfort and soothing. Don't be surprised if you hear your child singing in bed or while playing, or serenading dolls or stuffed animals, especially if you have made a habit of singing to him or her yourself.

When music is part of the everyday routine, these songs can help your child know what to expect and feel more secure. For instance, if you always sing a lullaby at bedtime or naptime, your child will come to see this as a cue for "go to sleep."

Here are some other ways music can help your child make transitions through the day:
Picking up toys ("toys away, toys away, it's time to put the toys away")brushing teeth ("brushing, brushing, brushing teeth," sung to the tune of "London Bridge Is Falling Down")taking a bath ("Now it's bath time, now it's bath time, yes, it is" sung to the tune of "Are You Sleeping")In addition, you can use music to alter your child's mood — and your own. While soft, gentle music seems just right for bedtime, louder, bouncier music could be just the boost you both need when it's time to clean up the toys.

Listen to All Kinds of Music: Kids' music CDs are great, but don't forget to share your own favorite music with your kids. A toddler who loves Beethoven or Bruce Springsteen? Why not? Folk music and music from other cultures also can be good choices for kids. When you try new music, ask if your child likes it and discuss your opinion as well.

Though toddlers aren't likely to be ready for a night at the opera, you might be able to find live performances suitable for kids. Museums, libraries, and bookstores often host child-friendly events. Outdoor concerts where kids can run around without disturbing anyone are also a good bet.

You might also enroll your child in a music class. If you do, be sure the class is developmentally appropriate — for kids this age, that means it shouldn't last more than 45 minutes and it should be something you and your child do together. Classes are a fun way to enjoy music together; they're also good sources for music and activities to enjoy at home. Check the music department at your local university if you need help finding a music class.

Even if you do take a class with your child, remember that you are your child's first and most important teacher when it comes to music — and so much more. To help your child really benefit from a music class, be sure to bring the music and games you learn there into your home.

Kindermusik Most Trusted Name in Music
With 30 years experience in developing early learning curricula and products, Kindermusik is the world’s most trusted name in music and movement classes for children newborn to seven. Kindermusik curricula are based upon the principles of early development applied to developmentally appropriate practice as defined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Plus, the Kindermusik philosophy is rooted in the work of early childhood development experts like Piaget, Montessori, and Greenspan.

Kindermusik's full curricula offer your child seven years of musical learning that involves every aspect of your child’s growth and development: language, motor skills, social skills, cognitive development, emotional growth, and musicality. Throughout the Kindermusik experience, a trusted and trained Educator will guide you and your child through every musical and developmental milestone and help you understand what is happening all along the way. Each semester, a new set of At Home Materials brings the experience out of the classroom and into your every day routines and rituals.

Come experience for yourself why more parents around the world choose Kindermusik than any other music and movement program.

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