Toddlers - Becoming a Good Listener

Parenting Tip: Notice sounds, with your toddler – at home, and away!

 

Why?

In almost every class, we have an activity that focuses on the act of listening.  Hearing and listening are different. Your ears and brain naturally receive sound from the environment.  Listening, however, is an intentional, mental process that requires attention and focus as the brain sorts and interprets sounds.  Listening is key to learning, as well as for nurturing connections with others.  Listening activities that focus on one sound at a time, help children practice the skills of attention, and engaged listening.

 

How?

Make some Windy Weather!

Once you have the wind going, create some sky crafts, to ride on the wind!  

Get the whole family together, and have a windy dance party!  Play I Can't See the Wind (from Kindermusik's Up in the Sky CD), and enjoy dancing like wind-blown leaves, all around the house! 

Also from Up in the Sky, try honing in on the owl's call.

Find some soundmakers at your house, and find ways to make sound on our drums

Listen to the upward and downward chimes in Sunshine Play and move your body (or a scarf!)  accordingly.

 

Want to Learn More?

On our blog - Learn more about how to help develop your child's listening skills!

 

Kindermusik 7-Year Continuum: 

As a baby, your child honed in on the sound of your voice, first.  Now, in toddler Kindermusik classes, you are guiding your child to knowledge of new sounds, through focused listening activities (including labeling, and imitating each sound).  As a preschool Kindermusik kid, your child will discover the sounds of specific instruments through listening games (am I playing a shaker, a bell, or rhythm sticks?).  In Young Child classes, your child will use her listening skills to make sure that she is playing the correct notes on her glockenspiel, and that she is going at the same tempo as the rest of the group.