Talk the Talk. The Kindermusik Talk!

I'm sure that you all are SO sick of hearing me talk about talking to your children, but I promise that I do it because it is so very important.  Kindermusik International's blog Minds on Music, recently posted on how important your voice is to your baby!

My next post will be on something entirely different, I promise!


Happy reading!

Musically~

The Art of ... Repetition

Each time I post, I find myself thinking about your exceptional children, and how Kindermusik's FOL's (Foundations of Learning) come into play in our lessons.  This week, the families will hear about the importance of repetition.  This kind of seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes, it is helpful to talk about those because, well... we often don't!

It is easy to see the physical results of repetition.  We see them learn to walk, learn to talk, and learn to color and then write.  Repetition physically is one of the most rewarding things we can experience as parents because it is proof that your little bundle of love is making progress.  Who doesn't want that, right?  There is a flip side to this, though, that is harder to think about because it is always hidden!

Flip: what's happening in your music maker's little brain.  It's a lot -a lot is going on up there that we don't even notice.  Chemically, the brain is making connections between brain cells through the synapses.  These little guys help build and strengthen baby's brain.  The more connections the better; they help stabalize the brain cells.  Traditionally, this stops when the are about 13 years of age, depending, of course, on genetics.

Every week, when we do our Hello, Hello! song and our goodbye song, we're using repetition to signal the beginning and ending of class.  Each week when we give them an instrument, we are using repition to strengthen their muscles, motor skills, and their brains.

On the really bright side, this is an exciting, safe, and happy experience for your baby as well as being exciting, safe, and happy for you!  It is truly amazing what 45 minutes of moving and shaking can do for everyone.  I know that I spend the rest of the day smiling!




Musically,

Conversing With a Baby

"Eh!" "Really?  Is that so?"  "Breeehh!"  "Well I'm not sure about that...."  "Huuh buh buh buh"  "Yes, well I know you would like to!"

Do you ever feel like you and your baby have nothing to talk about?  They give you a sound that really just seems to be a sound and you think, "huh...well what do I say to that?"  I always chuckle when I hear babies practicing their talking.  Sometimes they seem so incredibly proud of a new sound or our response to their sound that the awe they experience can be contagious! 

In my classroom, I always encourage parents to be as expressive as possible.  I'm sure they think that I'm maybe a little loony sometimes (my farm animal sounds are pretty amazing...), but it really does make the difference.  Within our expressions, speech, and gestures we are showing them how we (rather you -the parent) interacts with others.  One of my favorite Foundations of Learning focuses on exposing baby to their environment through dancing, singing, etc.  We are teaching them how to react, how to behave (somewhat) with in the unspoken rules of the social environment in which you live.

So I encourage you to talk and sing back.  Give your little one (or ones!) the opportunity to tell you what is on their mind, even if it requires a, "no -that's not your belly button!" or, "what does a doggy say?" and to sing and dance your way into life long learning.

Musically,

Busy B

Luck o' the Musical

To those of you who celebrate this holiday, Happy St. Patrick's day!  May the luck o' the musical (or Irish!) be with you.  :)  For those of you who do not, I hope, at least, that you're wearing green to avoid the pinching fingers of those who do!

As a reminder: there will be no classes this weekend for "spring break."  I'll see you NEXT weekend!

Also, I'll be adding pictures this weekend (which was my plan last weekend...), so stay tuned!

Have a musically fabulous LUCKY day!

Updates, pictures, and friends!

I always like having fun things to share with you all!  It makes me quite happy, and gives me things to work toward to make classes more fun and exciting! 

I have a few updates for you, since the semester is halfway over.  I can't believe how time flies, but it has been such a wonderful two months that I'm looking forward to summer.  First, I'd like to announce that Busy B will be having a "mini-mester" starting in May.  This will include Sign and Sing, Village, and Our Time classes.  They will be 5 weeks in length, and will be the perfect thing to get your summer started!  I'm looking forward to them and I hope to see you there.
Secondly, I will be posting the summer session online before the month is over.  I'm still working on coordinating schedules, but I will have that for you soon.
 Third, May will be "bring a friend" month.  It's a month full of great deals and opportunities but -I'll not spoil the surprise yet.  I'll save it for April!


I LOVE using Facebook!  It's such a great way to meet new families, see pictures of the little ones, and to share stories and updates.  I'll be putting class pictures up on Facebook for your enjoyment!  Please feel free to download the ones of YOUR children for keepsakes.  I'll also be posting some of the cutest, and most musical here on the blog, so please make sure to check for updates.  Anyone may read about the musical, cute, funny, and educational explorations Kindermusik by Busy B, so please send your friends and relatives over this way!  I love having new friends, and spreading the word about how awesome Kindermusik is for the whole family!


Musically yours ~

Foundations of Learning, and Learning for Life!

I'm sure by now you know how FABULOUS I think Kindermusik is!  If you're not, that's alright -you will soon!  I think it's fabulous for a number of reasons, but one of the things that I appreciate the most is our Foundations of Learning or, most lovingly called "FOL's."  We use these to let you guys (parents!) know what you're helping your child(ren) learn, and surprisingly you will learn lots along the journey too.


In this last week's lesson, the FOL was: "Children learn at different rates.  If they don't catch on right away, it's okay!  They will learn through observing, practicing, and doing."  This, or course, piqued my interest.  Immediately, I had an example.  Kisses!  Babies LOVE to blow kisses (the understatement being, that they LOVE to receive them too).  But -they didn't just learn that on their own.  WE (or rather, YOU, as parents) taught them to do that.  This is the same for when you experience the "NO!" phase, or the "uh-oh!" phase.  They learned these things from us -cool!

The baby brain is such an amazing little tool.  It absorbs, it produces ideas, it implements ideas, and all of this while trying to figure out how to live in the human world.  So, if they don't catch on to the game/song/activity right away, it's okay!  Just enjoy the moment you have with your mover and shaker because before you know it...they'll be moving and shaking away faster than you think!


Musically yours~