TODDLERS LOVE RHYTHM ACTIVITIES

Dr. Wendy Ghiora – March 17, 2012 – Posting #106

Toddlers and babies love to bang, shake and throw things on the floor. Research shows they do this to learn about their bodies' capabilities, to explore their environment, and to test the properties of physical objects. Mostly, they do this to experience the sheer joy of creating sounds. What a terrific feeling it is when they discover that they can make noise in so many ways! It's a feeling of wonder, delight, and power.

Early childhood research confirms, music is very important for young children. Music has been documented to play a role in the development of many kinds of intelligences, and also offers children the opportunity to practice socializing, creativity, and self-expression.

Why Use Rhythm Instruments?
With rhythm instruments, children can create their own music. No CD or I-Pod is necessary!
Rhythm instruments don't require singing. Singing is encouraged; however, not all children will participate in singing activities. Some are just naturally shy or self-conscious. Rhythm instrument activities are simple for children to learn and use. With rhythm instruments there is no right or wrong way, so the individuality of each child is promoted.

Rhythm instruments involve the body in keeping a beat and feeling rhythm. This helps young children build spatial awareness, explore movement, expand their movement repertoire and vocabulary, and build their understanding of concepts such as up and down, over and under, high and low, soft and loud, short and long, in and out, and stop and go.

Here Are a Few Rhythm Instrument Activities:
Freeze Dance With Bells
Everyone dances until you stop the music. When the music stops, the children "freeze" in place like statues. When you restart the music, everyone dances again. Continue for a few minutes.

Bells add an extra (loud) dimension to the freeze dance game. Ask children to attach bells around their wrists. Then put on some fun dance music.

The bells make the game noisier (which is always fun) and also make "freezing" more of a challenge, since their jingling will give them away if they continue moving!

Experiments With Shakers (or Maracas)
Introduce this activity by asking children how they think shakers make a sound. Tell them that they're going to explore how different things can make different sounds when shaken in containers.

Use a clean, empty, plastic peanut butter jar or Quaker Oats container with a top for the container. Bring out various items to fill the jar and encourage children to try shaking them in the container. (Pass each new "invention" around the circle for everyone to try.) Some ideas for materials to use include:

Dried beans
Rice
Dry cereal such as oat rings
Cotton balls
Jingle bells
Pennies
Small plastic building bricks

Ask children to describe the sounds they hear. Which are loudest? Softest? Nicest? Most interesting? They may want to vote on their favorite sound. Also, they may have ideas for other materials to use. This could turn into an ongoing project!

Safety note: If children are still putting things into their mouths, supervise this activity very closely.

It is an awesome thing to witness the joy of a child when he realizes he can create his own music!

Music is an essential part of everything we do. Like puppetry, music
has an abstract quality which speaks to a worldwide audience in a
wonderful way that nourishes the soul.
- Jim Henson – creator of The Muppets

Ten Fun Ways to get Children Interested in Reading

Dr. Wendy Ghiora – March 10, 2012 – Posting #105

Instilling a lifelong love of reading is a singular gift all parents should bestow upon their children. It is by far the best way to help our young people succeed in school, discover their own unique interests and gifts and develop into confident, well-rounded adults.

There are a wide variety of ways to encourage children to read. The more of these you try, the greater success you will have. Indulge yourself in a bounty of fun introducing children to the magical world of books.

Here are just a few suggestions to make reading very attractive for children:

1. Make reading a daily part of life, including reading road signs, recipes and directions out loud.

2. Set aside time to read with your child every day. Spend time reading together just before bed and take turns reading out loud with younger children.

3. Pay attention to what your child is interested in, and find books for him or her to read on those subjects.

4. Spend at least an hour every week at the library.

5. Set time aside every week for family reading night.

6. Make reading interactive – ask your children’s opinions on what they are reading. Discuss the story and the characters with them. As they get older, you can ask what they think the author’s message or purpose was for writing the story.

7. Set goals, such as challenging your child to read three books over Christmas break.

8. Ask older children to help younger ones with reading. This activity will boost older kids’ confidence, in addition to providing important practice for younger children.

9. Actively encourage children to read and congratulate them on their progress.

10. Set an example—seeing you read will encourage your child to do the same!

“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.”

Victor Hugo