How the Toddler's Intellect is Affected by the Arts: Part 2 of a 4 Part Series

Every thing toddlers see / hear / feel / taste / do is either building new neuro-pathways or strengthening present ones

• Some pathways, if not used during the early years will disappear
• Everything is new to them: every person, every texture, every object, every action, every smell, etc
• What they do now is the basis for all learning: problem solving, basic concepts, questioning, testing
• Toddlers need to be talked to, asked questions of, challenged, rewarded, read to
• They are learning about the basic math concepts: in/out; over/under; big/little; soft/hard; up/down; red/green; fast/slow; heavy/light etc.
• They are learning about real vs. imaginary 
• Through experience they learn that although things may be out-of-sight they have not disappeared
• They are learning that symbols represent real things or communications
• Pre-reading skills are being built: comparing sounds (ball/fall; basketball = basket - ball)

Some Activities to Enjoy with your Toddler:

• Provide them sticky tape (all kinds) and let them explore
• Set up challenging obstacle courses for crawling through, under, over, around (Labeling actions improves language)
• Provide numerous sensory activities: allowing exploration, dumping, mixing, pouring, feeling etc
• Play games that require memory skills and repetition (ex. hide an object under a cloth)
• Toddlers love to repeat activities time and again experimenting with what they learned (or thought they had learned: was their theory correct?)
• Label objects with words and pictures
• Couple oral language with hand signs to assist them with communicating. Kids can wave before they can say bye-bye!
• Provide a multitude of materials and activities which enhance understanding of the basic concepts: blocks, boxes and bags of objects, music (at varying tempos and intensity), dolls, food
• Make a "boo-tube" together: place an object (that creates a sound, if possible) in a see-through tube; cover one end of the tube with paint or decorated paper (they can decorate it); let them rock the tube back and forth, making the object inside disappear and re-appear
• Peek-a-boo boxes can be made out of small containers by gluing a picture inside for them to find

How Kindermusik Helps Build Intellect through Music and Movement

The Kindermusik method, which is taught by thousands of licensed instructors around the world, focuses on music and movement as fundamental factors in early childhood development.

For parents wondering when they should introduce their child to music, Prof. Lee Willingham, coordinator of the music education program at Wilfrid Laurier University, has a quick and easy answer: "There is no wrong time, except too late."  "It's amazing that a child's brain seems to be hard-wired to respond to music," he says. "You don't have to infuse kids with music -- it's already there, waiting to be awakened."

Willingham says there has been a flood of public and scientific interest in the cognitive benefits of music since the Mozart Effect became widely known in the late 1990s.

Though the Mozart effect itself refers to a study in which university-aged students seemed to fare better on spatial-reasoning tests after listening to Mozart, many studies followed, examining more specifically the effects of music on children.

Music, combined with rhythmic motion (especially playing two-handed instruments such as guitar and piano), has been shown to aid development of the corpus callosum, the connection between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. 

Other studies have shown links between playing simple instruments at an early age and development of spatial reasoning and language skills.

Researchers at Hamilton's McMaster University recently used magnetoencephalography brain-scanning technology to determine that children aged four to six who took music lessons showed more changes in brain activity than those who did not. Even the act of bouncing babies to the rhythm of music has been shown to help children compartmentalize and make sense of the world around them.

"I think we have enough evidence to say that a child who doesn't get music is being deprived -- I will say that boldly and unapologetically," Willingham says.

Though experts unanimously agree exposing children to music is beneficial, opinions vary on how it's best done. The Suzuki method, taught at the Suzuki String School in Guelph, emphasizes building performance skills on an instrument such as violin or piano through a nurturing lesson style.

Programs like Kindermusik emphasize singing, dancing and playing to help children grow mentally and emotionally.

The number of options might seem overwhelming to parents, but it needn't, says Bill Labron, director of the Beckett School in Kitchener. The school's Early Childhood Music program uses a blend of a number of different teaching styles -- including Orff, Eurythmics and Dalcroze -- to introduce children as young as three to music. "At that age, they can learn to carry a tune and develop a sense of rhythm," Labron says. "It provides physical, emotional and mental stimulation. If people can make that investment in their kids, the benefits are wonderful."

Why Choose Kindermusik?


It’s true that research shows music helps children become better learners, and that even a newborn emotionally responds to music. Parents respond, too: 99% of Kindermusik parents would recommend the classes to other parents*.

However, all the research in the world can’t accurately capture the look of pure delight in your child’s eyes when she experiences the sights and sounds of Kindermusik, both in the classroom and at home.

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.

Our 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.

*Harris Interactive, November 2005

The Toddler and the Arts: Part 1 of a 4 Part Series

• Music enhances brain development, especially since it stimulates the connection of 'sensory-cognitive-motor' development building the neuro-connections stronger and more complex
• Art activities can develop sensory stimulation, patterning, and conceptual awareness
• Role-playing helps toddlers understand their world: experimenting and practicing roles--they can express how they feel about other people; they can practice with rules;
• Music activities enrich memory abilities

Here are activities to bring the arts to toddler's every day life:

• Toddlers love to bang on pots and pans and oatmeal boxes--builds creativity, motor development, sensory awareness, and rhythm.
• They love to march, and dance to music (don't forget the Classical Stuff!). Provide scarves, instruments, and ribbons to dance and march with
• Finger painting is F-U-N! Try finger painting in a bag (place paints in a re-sealable bag and 'paint' by drawing with fingers on the outside of the bag)
• Provide a box full of hats and gloves and shoes to dress up in--provide a full-sized mirror so they can see what they look like
• And don't forget sensory material: cornmeal, shaving cream, pudding, ice, rice, water, sand, flower, bells, Easter grass, sandpaper, silk, cotton balls
• Attach some "mac-tac" to the wall (sticky side out) and provide a variety of materials for mounting on their mural: magazine pictures and words, ribbons, popsicle sticks, pebbles, buttons, textured paper and material, pre-cut shapes
• Make musical shakers out of any container. With two shakers of each sound, they can compare and find the matching sounds
• Play "SH!!!! Shakers" by keeping one shaker empty. Have them find the SH!!! Shaker (the silent one).
• Chanting Box: place two of several different objects inside a box (objects that have names of 1, 2, and 3 syllables long). Have child pull out 4 objects creating the words for a chant (Ex. leather mitten, leather mitten, blue shoe, cup) This builds not only language skills but the rhythm of speech and of music
• Sing songs and do fingerplays: repetition of these songs develop memory skills, rhythm, and language
• Sing, chant, act, and speak with varying voice tones and pitches -- developing sound discrimination skills

How Kindermusik brings the Arts to Toddlers

Simply put, Kindermusik is a music and movement program. Each week in class we play, listen, and dance to music that will impact you and your child in profound ways. That’s because every song, story, and two-step has a carefully chosen purpose in this creative curriculum—one that’s designed to stimulate and strengthen the vital neural wiring taking place in your child’s mind, right now. A Kindermusik educator will guide you every step of the way so you know how each activity contributes to your child’s overall growth and development.

The latest research with proven methods—that’s Kindermusik, too. Our child-centered curricula incorporate ongoing, in-classroom studies with our own, 30-years’ experience in music and child development. Plus, we’ve combined the best music learning methods found in Orff, Kodaly, and Suzuki.

“Take-home” books, instruments and CDs from class let you take learning with you wherever you go. All while strengthening the emotional bond between you and your child.

So whether it’s twirling under a sea of scarves, experimenting with age-appropriate instruments, singing about a scampering squirrel, creating a musical ensemble, or snuggling in your lap during story time, Kindermusik speaks your child’s language and offers her (and you!) the best music and movement class available.

Behold . . . the Power of Kindermusik!

We know we’re being dramatic, but I’m afraid we won’t apologize . . . because the research about music and children’s development is truly jaw-dropping. In the last couple of years, the eyes of the research community have turned increasingly to music, and the marvels and mysteries they have discovered are nothing short of amazing (though perhaps not exactly surprising to people who’ve regularly witnessed its effect). The bottom line: early, positive, age-appropriate experiences with music—like Kindermusik—can have a remarkable and research-proven impact on children’s learning, including language and literacy skills (e.g., vocabulary, comprehension, listening, expression); social and emotional development; mathematics and pattern-recognition skills; and even ability to plan, guide, and self-regulate behavior. It’s a lot to keep track of, so we’ve summarized the latest research on the benefits of Kindermusik-style music and movement experiences. Take a look . . .

Music & Literacy
Early music experiences can have a significant impact on literacy and reading. According to experts, learning to read depends on acquiring a variety of skills, including phonological processing, oral language, and comprehension.

Our Time Toddlers!

Toddlers are insatiable movers.

Running, jumping, and other energetic locomotor movements are valuable, appropriate, and fun activities for the Our Time child. The child's innate need to move is inextricably linked to learning. It is important to provide outlets for your child's energy as well as for her skill development. Moving and controlling one's movements are learned skills.

Toddlers are just beginning to learn to regulate their movements. One aspect of self-regulation is inhibitory control or the ability to stop oneself and to wait. Inhibitory control is important in social interactions where taking turns is involved and as such is an important skill for success in school.

"Control of the body is the first kind of  control children have over themselves and is the first step toward the

development of internal control or 'selfdiscipline.'"  -Dance for Young Children, by Sue Stinson, p. 5.

Kindermusik classes offer opportunities for children to discover new ways to move their bodies, explore their
capabilities, and practice their new skills.

Moving and Stopping

Your child may be an exuberant mover-running, leaping, jumping! Or your child may be more cautious about moving-making smaller, less energetic movements. Or, your child may be somewhere in between! All of these movement responses are perfectly normal for toddlers. Your child may be reluctant about joining in movement activities in class, but may energetically try them out at home. Your child is always learning-even if he does not appear to be actively engaged in a class activity.

Toddlers often find it difficult to stop moving. One way to help your child develop inhibitory control is to play "stop and go" games with him. These games allow your child to practice controlling his movements and to revel in his mastery of this control. One "stop and go" singing game played in class is "Walk and Stop." Sing this song at home repeating several times, changing the movement word on each repeat. Try spinning, twirling, or even crouching!

Toddlers also often have great difficulty taking turns and sharing.
This is completely natural since they cannot "put themselves in someone else's shoes." Attending Kindermusik Our Time class each week provides the opportunity for your child to interact with other children and to begin
practicing sharing and turn-taking. Activities that call for sustaining attention, following directions, or inhibiting movement or sound provide opportunities to help your child learn to monitor and modify her own behavior.

The Away We Go! curriculum provides opportunities for your child to listen attentively during Active Listening activities, to share and take turns playing an instrument during "There's a Little Wheel," and to practice waiting for the teacher to sing to him at the beginning of each class during "Our Time Hello."

At Home

• With your child, make up a signal for "stop."  Start using the signal while playing "stop and go" games with your child. Then, you can use the signal in other situations when you wish for your child to "stop."
• Model sharing behaviors. Make an effort to include "share" in your vocabulary when talking to your child. She needs to know what it means before she can do it.  Remember that children are very likely to imitate your actions. 
• Play a "stop and go" instrument game with your child. Let your child play his harmonica until you give him the "stop" signal. How quickly can he stop? Play your harmonica and let him give you the "stop" signal!

Notes from a Kindermusik Our Time: Away We Go! lesson.
Leave a comment or send me a tweet @Anglemusik

Dew Drops and Steady Beat

Feel the beat?

In this week's Village class we found that steady beat was at the heart of every activity-exercising to "Did You Ever See a Lassie?," bouncing to an old English song, "Ride a Cock-Horse to Banbury Cross," where we actually tried riding some stick poneys and then finally rocking to the calming tune of "Greensleeves."

Steady beat is the unchanging continuous pulse in a song or chant and is an organizer for the child; purposeful and calming. Moving to a steady beat, a child develops a sense of timing, which is fundamental to the ability to organize and coordinate movements. Think of all we do that requires regularly-paced repeated motion (a sense of steady beat!): walking, running, riding a bicycle, cutting with scissors, bouncing a ball, and more.

It's easy to find the beat in a nursery rhyme. Pick out a couple of your favorite rhymes and get the nursery rhyme beat!

Here are some ideas to get you started:

a.. Holding baby and walking-just add the rhyme and walk to the beat.
b.. Drying off baby after bath time-exercise legs up and down to a rhyme.
c.. Just finished dressing baby-lap bounce to a verse or two.

Bouncing along!  Hey, leave a comment or tweet @Angelmusik

What Goes Up Must Come Down

What goes up comes down with a bounce-and lots of laughter!

It's all about learning something new the toddler way, which means challenging and inspiring that natural sense of wonder. And this week, it was all about having a ball.

Toddler's don't always realize the physical properties of a ball, and may be surprised and thrown off balance when a ball bounces back up. But, by practicing bouncing and rolling balls in class, s/he will learn to predict what the ball will do and move as she needs to maintain her balance and keep control of the ball.

He can use these balancing skills when learning new moves, like skipping and jumping. Rolling and catching the ball improves hand-eye coordination, which will help her with many activities as she grows.

Patterns for Learning Success

Patterns are everywhere! Does your child notice them? Patterns are in words like button. consonant, vowel, double consonants, vowel, consonant. Patterns are in numbers. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, etc., Patterns are in nature, like the colors on a butterfly, the rings of trees, the flight paths of birds. So many patterns everywhere. Each week at Kindermusik we are working on patterns and helping your child be aware of them. Here are some ways we've worked on patterns this semester:

Village (ages 0 -18 months): Babies have been moving to high and low sounds as they come repeatedly in songs like: Irish Trot. We go around, go up, go around, go down, and go around again! Not only are we experiencing patterns, but also high and low sounds. The more experience with high and low, the better your child will understand this important language and musical concept later on.
 







Our Time (ages 18mo-3yrs): One of our class's favorite songs is: "Toe-Tapp'n Blues" which leads to egg-shak'n blues, swing'n blues, and much more! Our Time has really enjoyed exploring all the movements while listening to the pattern of the melody and chords in the song. This song is in the blues style and has its chord pattern:

Family Time (all ages): We clap and recite "Doctor Knickerbocker."  Feeling these patterns will help us move in space and in time and help children recognize when patterns change.

Patterns are so much fun, especially combined with Kindermusik. As you can see each age group follows a logical progression from experience to cognition, recognition, and production of their own patterns. That's the benefit and the value of Kindermusik, we grow with your child to give them the next step in the learning process!

New Our Time Class Starting Soon!

Our Time: Away We Go

For your toddler, every day brings new discoveries and opportunities to explore the world around him. Despite your toddler’s seeming independence, he still longs for the safety and security of parental closeness. During this time, your toddler still relishes the comfort of the familiar while also seeking the challenge of something new.

Kindermusik Our Time encourages her to be creative, to initiate her own ideas and to respond in her own ways, while your active participation gives her the security she needs. As you play instruments, sing, move, and explore, you’ll uncover an engaging musical world while building your child’s confidence, self-control and communications skills.

What you’ll experience in class:
Instrument exploration and ensemble skill development. Your child will explore the physical characteristics and sounds of age-appropriate instruments which will eventually lead her to discover her potential for beat, rhythm, and melodic ensemble playing.

Vocal play. Through vocal play, toddlers learn to form vowels and consonants, say words and phrases, and imitate rhythm and vocal inflection. In Kindermusik Our Time, vocal play is presented within the context of songs, chants, and activities done in class.

Exploration Time. Your child will love discovering specially designed instruments, textures, sounds and movements.

Story time and early literacy. Listening to stories enhances language and speech development and fosters awareness of sounds, teaches use of language, and sends the message that words and symbols have meaning. The same experiences that help your child learn to read a book also help her learn to read music.

Movement Activities. Each class provides various opportunities for movement such as synchronized movement, group dances and circle games, and even expressive movement.

Together Time. Kindermusik is the essence of quality time, allowing you to make the most of the fleeting toddler years and giving you the time and the tools to make music and memories together in class and at home.

Expert advice. A Kindermusik educator explains how our musically based activities enhance your child’s complete development.

Enrollment includes:
Developmentally appropriate curriculum for parents and toddlers 18 months to 3 years old
15 week semester
Weekly 45-minute class
Home Materials: Family Activity Guide, two literature books, instrument, and two CDs of music from class

Starting Friday: April 16th
Time: 9:30-10:30am
Call 503-708-2827
http://www.kindermusikwithangie.kindermusik.net/

Your Toddler and Our Voices

Not only can your toddler walk, he can talk, too! How quickly those first words that once only you recognized become clear enough to be understood by complete strangers. Soon one-word utterances become two-word sentences, and then one day you wake up to a vocabulary explosion! At this point your toddler may not be able to carry a tune, but he'll be gaining the kind of control over his vocal chords that will allow him to switch from a loud voice to a quiet one. And if you sing a familiar song like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and leave off the last word, he'll gladly fill in the blank. Soon he'll be singing his own version of the song probably something like "Twinkle, Twinkle, star" repeated over and over. Rhythm and lyrics (or at least some of the lyrics) come first. Pitch will have to wait.

Freeze Dance!

We've all seen energy build up in toddlers, preschoolers, or big kids. But you can usually redirect this energy with a fun little game. At the same time, you'll be helping to develop your child's physical control and something called "inhibitory control," or his or her ability to start and stop behaviors. Sometimes, all you need to do is turn on some music and play Freeze Dance!

 

All you need to do is:

• Get some lively music going.
• Dance around with your child or encourage him or her to dance -- let your child burn off some of that energy!
• Every so often, quickly pause the recording -- everyone (including you) should immediately freeze!
• To spice things up, after each freeze you can call out a new dance word like twirl, twist, leap, wiggle, or turn.
• Now start dancing like that until it's time to pause the music and freeze again.

Don't have any music handy? No problem! Sing a song or bang a funky rhythm on something you have lying around the house. Stop at random times, just like you were pausing the music.

Redirecting your child's energy into a fun game or activity can work like a charm. Try it next time you see your little one developing a case of ants in the pants

Your Toddler and Concepts and Contrasts

Toddlers use their emerging body mastery to learn about rhythm about such basic musical concepts as "high and low," "loud (forte) and quiet (piano)," and "bumpy (staccato) and smooth (legato)." And now that their sensory systems have settled in, most (but not all) children this age will want to be challenged more than they did as infants. Toddlers learn musical concepts kinesthetically, that is, they learn them by feeling them in their bodies. When you and your child moved to Doot Doot Deedle-eet, first smoothly and then bumpily, your child used his whole body to sense the difference. He may not be able to say "smooth" and "bumpy" (that's why we say it for him, over and over), but his body know just what to do.

Your Toddler and Beat and Rhythm

If anyone seems to march to the beat of a different drummer, it's a toddler. But watch your toddler during any music time and you'll see how remarkably capable s/he is of moving in time to the music. It may look awkward, but not only can s/he keep a simple beat, he enjoys it. the toddler years are all about taking chage of one's own body, and moving to the beat is yet another way of saying, "I am the master of my arms and legs!" You may even find your child inventing his own little nonsense songs, complete with his own unique rhythms.

Learning to dance in rhythm has some fascinating implications for developing cognitive skills. Rhythms are patterns: some very simple, such as the on-two, one-two of a march, and some much more comples (salsa, anyone?). Although we parents may think that learning how to count is the first math skill we teach our children, learning about patterns is a math skill that begins much earlier. So keep on dancing...One-two, cha-cha-cha.

Music's Power

Take full advantage of music's power for learning, delight, and bonding. Nurturing a true music lover begins at birth (and probably even before).

Try following this prescription (begin practicing during pregnancy):

. Sing EVERY night at bedtime. (You don't have to be a singer...the child hears the heart behind the voice.)
. Enjoy dancing with abandon every day to favorite recording. (You don't have to be a dancer...all movement supports growth and development.)
. Accompany every diaper change with a nursery rhyme.
. Play calming music at naptime(s) or meltdowns.
. Incorporate a time to bounce to a beat. (Just bouncing steadily and stopping will evoke spontaneous giggles.)
. Rock, rock, rock.
-Carol Penney, Kindermusik educator and employee-owner

Music

Music! It's the panacea for many of the challenges that wreak havoc as children grow up. It calms babies. It brings joy to toddlers. It builds confidence in preschoolers. It develops far-reaching and long-lasting skills that grow musicians, creative problem solvers, and confident lovers of learning.

My single best advice for young parents? Let music permeate your home (and car)! Music makes parenting more joyful. Music helps children unfold into wonderful, responsible, caring adults. And you don't have to be a musician to bring music in your child's life

Away We Go Classes

With its focus on transportation, Away We Go! includes many opportunities for going around and around like a wheel turning. In addition to being enjoyable, all the turning and twirlling in Away We Go! is helping children develop:
a.. Balance
b.. Coordination
c.. Directional Awareness

The Movement-Vision-Reading Connection

"Our visual sense functions...when our eyes are actively moving..., when the body and head move, the vestibular sytem is activated, and the eye muscles strenghten as they move in response. The more the eyes move, the more the muscles of both eyes work together." Later on, this "eye-teaming" will enable these now-toddlers to focus as well as to track and to conentrate as they learn to read in school. Smart Moves, by Carla Hannaford

Barefoot

Barefoot is best for Baby. Baby learns through his senses, especially on the bottoms of the feet.

Kindermusik Teacher
503-708-2827
web site: www.kindermusikwithangie.kindermusik.net
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Stop and Go

Music is sound and movement, and it is silence and stillness. Just as we experience sculpture in terms of where it begins and ends in space, we experience music in terms of where it begins and ends in time that surrounds it.

Kindermusik Teacher
503-708-2827
web site: http://www.kindermusikwithangie.kindermusik.net/
Become a fan of my Facebook page!

"According to a new York Longitudinal Study, three major factors in early learning environments lead to competency in adulthood:
1. Rich sensory environments
2. Freedom to explore with few restrictions, and
3. Available parents that acted as consultants."
Smart Moves, by Carla Hannaford


Kindermusik Teacher
503-708-2827
web site: www.kindermusikwithangie.kindermusik.net
Become a fan of my Facebook page!

Tempo

Tempo or speed is central to transportation as well as to music. The 1 1/2 through 3-year-old child is learning to control and coordinate his body's movements and is naturally interested in the concepts of fast and slow, getting faster and getting slower, and stopping and starting. Mastering these concepts is immensely satisfying for the child.

Angie, Kindermusik Teacher
503-708-2827
web site: www.kindermusikwithangie.kindermusik.net
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Literacy

Reading picture books together with adults helps children internalize some skills that are crucial in the development of true literacy.
Reading Together:

• fosters reading enjoyment
• provides predictability through repetition
• expands understanidng of story structures
• promotes critical thinking
• encourages language play and creative expression

Kindermusik Music and Story Time provides all these important benefits as well as helping devleop music literacy through the rhythm and movement element of the Kindermusik story books.

 

 

Angie Janson, Kindermusik Teacher

503-708-2827

web site: www.kindermusikwithangie.kindermusik.net

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