Music Gets Us Going!

Music Gets Us Going! It gets us moving. Most importantly, it helps us remember information. Two-year-olds for instance “are just beginning to gain an understanding of numbers; they often learn to count by reciting the names of numbers from memory long before they understand the relative quantity of three or nine” (babycenter.com).

Music can be used numerous ways to engage children in the learning process. It can also stimulate their physical development while teaching them their ABC’s, numbers, multiplication tables, days of the week, and much more. One way to incorporate music into the life of your child is to use it to support a different activity each day. Not only will they grow to look forward to starting their day, but it can assist them in shifting from one activity to another and understanding the concept of time. Sesame Street’s You Tube channel as well as its website are filled with songs, some old some new but all engaging and supported by sound education research and best practices.

 For example, on Mondays, sing a song that sets out to teach them a particular skill, such as their ABCs. Tuesdays, sing a silly playful song.  On Wednesdays try a favorite hymn or special song that carries an important message (e.g. being respectful, taking care of things we cherish, and loving people). On Thursdays, create a song just for the two of you. This is especially important if you have more than one child. Each child will grow singing their own song. What a memory! On Fridays, sing “Pick up, pick up, everybody pick up” or some other song about cleaning up and putting items back where they belong. This song will be sung a lot and comes in handy on weekends. On Saturdays, sing about the activities of the day. If you shop for groceries on Saturday sing a song about numbers, fruits, vegetables, or colors. Be deliberate. Or, if Saturday is play day, sing songs about nature, the weather, or safe play.  The lessons we have to impart are countless, so there is a song for everything we need to teach our children.  Even “Stranger Danger” and more seriously themed songs can assist in having difficult conversations. On Sundays, those who follow particular faiths can rise singing a song that will be sung during the service or is a fixture among those who share beliefs.  If your family does not participate in such rituals, singing a song about new beginnings or the importance of life would also be a good anchor for the week.

Did you know? Approximately 80 percent of a child’s brain is formed by age 3, and a parent’s words are an influential part of that development (talkingisteaching.org).

Want to take your ability to talk, read, and sing with your child with you on the go? Baby’s Brilliant has an app for that! And it is free! Baby’s Brilliant provides “educational videos and music that introduce babies and toddlers to concepts such as numbers and colors, and helps them relax at nap time and bedtime. Some videos and songs are featured in Spanish.  Click the photo or http://bit.ly/1qkx5Db to download the app.

To get you started, here is a website and a book to share.

Songs for Teaching uses music to promote learning and provides the lyrics and music to hundreds of songs.

A book that can jump-start any week is Eric Carle’s “Today is Monday.”

Learn how to share this book with young children check out this video. There are 6 copies available throughout ALL Gadsden County Public Libraries.