Friday, November 6, 2015

Musical Parenting Tip:  move, and label, with your child

Why?
  • Labeling movements, as we help baby experience them, helps him begin to connect the relationship between the word and the movement.
  • Experiencing different movements and positions helps to develop baby’s vestibular system, muscle tone, and body awareness.
  • Moving can stimulate your child’s vestibular system.  According to Carla Hannaford, the vestibular system (part of the ear, related to balance & movement) must be activated for learning to take place.


How?
  • Read Hickory Dickory Dock, with your child.  Then, add movement to each part of the story.  Label words of position, like:  up, down, around, forward, backward, sideways, in front, behind, etc. 
  • Bounce to the Duke of York (from the Mama Goose album).  Be sure to move up when ‘they were up,’ and down when ‘they were down.’ 
  • Try the Cock-a-doodle Doo song!  Where will the dame find her shoe?  On top of Daddy’s head?  Behind the coffee table?  Under doggy’s tummy?  Use words of position to label where the shoe is found, each time you play the game.


Want to learn more?


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