Toddlers Love to Go Aaaaand STOP!

Parenting Tip: Play 'stop & go' and 'fast & slow' games, with your toddler!

 

Why?

'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 'self-discipline.'  Activities that encourage the child to focus, listen, then react through movement, or non-movement, develop a strong sense of internal control.' - Sue Stinson 'Dance for Young Children

Learning the steps of a simple dance is a way your child can practice self-control, but remembering a sequence of steps is just the beginning.  Your child also needs to plan and regulate his own movements, based on the movements of others around him.  She needs to persist, even when she doesn't get the steps, the first time around, and she needs to keep calm enough to observe and process what's happening during the dance.  (There is abundant opportunity to practice these important skills in any Kindermusik class). 

Research has shown that these self-control skills are important for your child's success in school, and throughout his adult life.

 

How?

Feel the Music!  It takes self-control for your child to move slowly, in the first segment.  For the faster parts, try hitting 'pause,' once in awhile, to make it a stop & go game! 

Watch a Drum With Me activity.  Then, play a 'follow the leader' game with the drums (or household containers)! 

Turn on a favorite track from your home CD, and play a game of 'freeze dance!'  When the music plays - DANCE!  When the music stops (when Mommy hits the 'pause' button), FREEZE like a statue!

Add some 'aaaaand STOP!' moments to your day-to-day life, with your toddler… (maybe when she wants to run through the aisle at the store? ;) )

 

Want to Learn More?

On our blog - read about new research, suggesting that Teaching Self-Control Leads to Academic Improvements!

 

Kindermusik 7-year Continuum:

Kindermusik babies (with help from adults) and toddlers (with modeling by adults) play stop and go games, move fast & slow, and practice taking turns.  As preschoolers, students use their experiences with stop & go games, to regulate their own responses to music ('move slow when the music is slow';  'everyone will get a turn to share an idea – let's hear Billy's idea first';  'now it's time to sit in a circle – come join the group!'), as Kindermusik big kids, students use their maturing self-control skills to organize their own materials, and set up their glockenspiel & mallets for play.  They also use that self-control to wait until it's time to start the song, and to play in time with the group.