"Music and child brain development are closely linked, with language, concentration, and learning all improved through singing." -Tamarin Foundation
Young children love to sing and make music. They love to dance and move to the beat! As they explore and enjoy music, they are developing skills in math, literacy, and social studies. Young children explore music through play, making discoveries as they experiment.
Here are some ways to support your child using music: Play music made for children. This music has simple lyrics, slower tempos, and repetitive phrases. Any motions are those that young children can have success with. Listen to songs with rhyming words. Repeat the rhyming words and have your child do the same. Make up new verses or rhymes to a familiar song. Sample different types of music. Play music from different cultures and genres. Point out the different instruments, tempos, and how the music “feels”. Make instruments. Put dried beans in a container with a lid and shake. Find sticks that you can tap together. Use lids or pans to bang or stick with a stick or spoon. Practice playing your instrument slow and fast, soft and loud. Expand your child’s vocabulary. Use music terminology when you are listening and making music together. Recognize and repeat patterns. Create a simple pattern with your instrument (or body) and have your child repeat. Encourage your child to create patterns for you to repeat.
Music is powerful, and it supports your child’s development throughout early childhood. As children explore music through play, they make discoveries about themselves and the world around them. They develop a larger vocabulary, pre-reading and math skills, and strengthen their social and emotional skills. But most importantly, music makes us happy!
Interested in learning more about the RPS205 Early Childhood opportunities for families with children Birth-age 5? Visit https://rockfordpsil.sites.thrillshare.com/page/early-childhood or call the Early Childhood Screening and Placement Office at 815-229-2103.
Hillary Cook-Harris is the Director of Early Childhood Curriculum and Assessment. Hillary joined RPS 205 in November 2019. She has been an Early Childhood educator and director for more than 30 years.