Here is a list of activities to incorporate music into our daily lives. This list can also be downloaded in the "Classroom Documents." Please feel free to contact me with your own ideas!  |
Infant-3 years
1. Compensatory Motion: Children develop compensatory motion at an early age. Compensatory motion is any regular movement that involves shifting weight. Any regularly weight-shifting will do, such as shifting weight from foot to foot, bending and unbending knees so the bottom bounces (babies seem to do this naturally), or swinging arms and torso front and back. Faster music is more likely to get compensatory motion going in very young children.
2. Modeling Motions: Help your children move by modeling motions. It's better for you to do movement WITH them than it is to do movement TO them. If you move to music and invite the child to join you, he or she probably will. Moving with the child is okay. That means rocking your child, patting the beat gently on the leg, or picking up your child and dancing. However, avoid forcing children's movements by moving their arms or legs for them.
3. Preferred Tempo: Most 2-3 year old children have a preferred tempo or speed. If they tap, clap or dance, they will tend to do this at their preferred tempo, regardless of the speed of the music that is playing. This is OKAY! Don't try to change your toddler's preferred tempo to match the music. Simply giving the child many opportunities to move to a variety of music is most helpful for 2s and 3s.
4. Expressive Movement: Free, expressive movement is also wonderful for a child's development. Poems and songs with motions can help children try different movements. Moving with scarves, stuffed animals, streamers, or pillows can sometimes help a child to be less self-conscious.
5. Resources: Have musically stimulating resources available in your child's play area. This includes instruments (toy, real, homemade), recorded music, a child's tape recorder, and books.
more to come... |
Music in Our Lives for September Desmond is currently under construction. Please come back later.