Rhythms & Toddlers - We've Got the Beat!

Musical Parenting Tip:  Bounce to the beat, and pat the rhythm with your toddler!

 

Why?

A study by movement expert, Phyllis Weikert, showed that being "able to keep a steady beat helps a person to feel the cadence (rhythm) of language" and can also affect their sense of equilibrium (www.earlychildhoodnews.com). 

Rhythmical abilities show a strong positive correlation with decoding skills, both in reading accuracy and reading prosody.

Plus, being able to keep a steady beat helps a child feel the cadence (rhythm) of language.

 

How?

Go on a video field trip to the Farmer's Market! 

Try making your own guiro/shaker.  Keep the beat, or make up a fun rhythm on your instrument!  Can you play the rhythm of words?  What about your child's name? 

Turn on a favorite track from the 'Time for Lunch' CD (like Vegetable Soup!), and invite the whole family to suggest ways to move to the beat!  Will you walk?  March?  Sway?  Jump?  Clap?  So many ways to move!

 

Want to Learn More?

On our blog:  Learn more about the Benefits of Steady Beat.  Also, find 14 ways to celebrate the new year, through early childhood music! 

 

Kindermusik 7-year Continuum:

In Kindermusik Sing & Play classes, you modeled the steady beat and the rhythm patterns of the music for your baby. 

Now, as a toddler, he still counts on you to model, but is beginning to imitate the way you keep the beat, and clap the rhythm. 

In Kindermusik preschool classes, your child will have opportunities to be the leader of the group, when playing steady beats and rhythm patterns. 

As a big kid, in Kindermusik Young Child classes, your child will begin to master the steady beat, while learning to read traditional rhythmic notation.