Keep the Beat With Your Child!

Musical Parenting Tip: Keep the beat with your child!

Why?

• Sung, chanted, or played, young children love steady beat (perhaps, due to its similarity to the heartbeat baby heard in the womb).
• Steady beat competency is an important skill for music, but also for other activities requiring regularly-paced, repeated motion (like walking, running, ball bouncing, bike riding, and using scissors)
• Steady beat competency has been linked to language, and the ability to read.

How?

• Do a lap bounce, with baby! Bouncing, moving, and listening are all ways for him to experience, internalize & begin to express steady beat.
• Exercising baby’s arms & legs to a nursery rhyme, like ‘Cackle, Cackle,’ helps her experience the beat.
• Tap the beat on baby’s body, as you sing or listen.

Want to learn more?

On our blog – read The Importance of Steady Beat.

Also, read 4 Reasons Steady Beat skills Matter in Early Childhood Education.

Kindermusik Makes Great Parenting Easier!

Musical Parenting Tip:  Adapt ideas from Kindermusik into your child's life to make great parenting easier!

Why?

• Kindermusik is research-based, to help you help your child grow in a safe environment, through age-appropriate songs & activities.
• Kindermusik classes offer opportunities to network with other parents & adults, who have children the same age as yours.
• With every new album, comes a new set of home materials and activities – for many of the situations parents need help with. 

How?

• Check out the tips included with your Kindermusik @ Home materials, including Baby Talk – Learning from Your Voice!  Be sure to check out the extra information on your baby’s ears & hearing, found in the upper-right, blue information box.
• Find out how to give your child a leg up, by helping her exercise!
• Use the rituals and routines in class at home for consistency and fun!
• Re-visit Baby-Soothers You Can Take Anywhere (and don’ t forget about that blue box with extra information on how to deal with that parent-anxiety that comes when baby begins crying, in the middle of a public place).

Want to Learn More?

On our blog: read Musical Parenting in the Four Seasons of Early Childhood – how Kindermusik can guide you through each stage of your young child’s life!

Also, read The Magic of the Memorable – from a Kindermusik studio-owner’s perspective.

Musical Discovery Builds Language Skills!

Musical Parenting Tip:  Discover your child's favorite animals with singing and movement!

Why?

• Through listening to, and imitating animal sounds, children explore what their voices can do.
• Engaging in discussions & conversations with your child about their activities, opinions (on various animals), and play (moving, singing, creating), reinforces your child’s developing language skills.
• Exploring animal sounds, allows your child to notice dynamics (louds and quiets).

How?

• Invite discussion about an animal using this as an opportunity to practice conversation skills - turn taking, listening, talking in complete sentences, asking and answer questions, etc.
• When you talk with your child, allow some time for them to form their thoughts and share them with you – and model using full sentences.
• To warm up your child’s ears, play the ‘Hey, Who Said That?’ game!
• Invite children to create their own verse of a favorite song using ideas and thoughts about an animal. They will brainstorm, discuss, create, and execute a plan - lots of language AND critical thinking here.
• Found your child’s favorite animal?  Make some dancing animal puppets, to celebrate!  Be sure to sing your new puppets their own special verse for the ‘Morning Song.’  Would that animal make loud, or quiet sounds?

Want to Learn More?

On our blog:  read how Music Paves the Way to Literacy.

Also, read more about musical dynamics.

Use Music to Build Deep Connections With Your Child

Musical Parenting Tip:  Play with your Kindermusik Home CD and Online Resources to foster deep emotional connections.

Why?

• Your child’s brain is profoundly influenced by her first love relationship – YOU!
• Music touches a person's emotions in a unique and lasting way (without words or visuals)
• A secure attachment bond helps baby to feel safe, develop meaningful connections with others, deal with stress, explore his world, balance emotions, create positive memories, and positive expectations of relationships.
• Baby learns best in the context of an environment where he feels safe, secure, and emotionally connected.

How?

• Sing the songs from class together at home and in the car. You will see your child engage more in the classroom because the songs are familiar and they know what to expect and the environment feels safe.  
• Take one song and turn it into a ritual singing it at the same time and way each day. Your child will come to expect it and it will provide an emotional anchor that will help them deal with change when it does happen.
• Engage your child in a game of Making Faces! Be sure to read the information in the upper-right blue box, about emotions and vocabulary.
• Rather play a movement game?  Get ideas from ‘Look What I Can Do!’
• Need a bedtime story?  Read your Kindermusik e-book “Watch Me!”

Want to Learn More?

On our blog:  read about the importance of loving connections, during the early years.

Also, read about why Moms Matter.

Learning the Difference Between Speaking and Singing

Musical Parenting Tip for Toddlers:  Play Speaking and Singing Games with Your Child

Why?

• Singing to young children supports early language development.
• Young children often can’t distinguish between their speaking and singing voices.  Children should be encouraged from a young age to explore the upper range of their voice, and to use their voice for singing, as much as possible.
• Activities that allow your child to listen to , and practice rhythmic speech are a bridge to singing. 

How?

• Do the Little Fish – Big Fish fingerplay, together.  Remember to make your ‘little fish’ voice sound different than your ‘big fish’ voice, and remember to sing a little, when each fish ‘sings a song.’
• Try the Ten Little Ponies fingerplay.         
• Sing along with I Looked Out My Window.

Want to Learn More?

On our blog:  read about the connection between singing & language development.

Also, read 5 Common Misconceptions about Music.