Rituals

Rituals~

Everyone has them whether you think you do or not.  The way you buckle your seatbelt, the things you say at Thanksgiving, or even things you do on your birthday -these are all rituals.  In the Kindermusik classroom we use rituals to create organization, comfort, security, and as attention grabbers for the little wandering minds (no, Moms and Dads -this is not you!).  We use a welcome song to get everyone situated and settled in class, and then we use a goodbye song to say our farewells until the next week.  These are just the two capstones of many rituals used in class.  I have been spending the past couple of days thinking about rituals, and how so many wonderful memories are birthed from the simple things we do!  One of my favorite memories involves lots of singing, dancing, and Wee Sing.  I can remember the first class of this Spring semester like it was yesterday!  Smiling faces, exciting new things and sounds -it is such a happy memory! 

So to my families~
Even though we won't be doing our hello and goodbye rituals for a little while, please know that I have enjoyed you all SO much!  Your children are wonderful, smart, cute little movers and shakers, and I hope to see you all soon!

Very musically yours~
Busy B!

Play that Funky Music!

No -seriously, play it!

We all know that children learn by experiencing new things.  That's why they touch it, squeeze and scratch it, and then stick it in their mouths.  Sometimes they're afraid, but most of the time, they'll surprise you by honing in and identifying what is new in their already understood situation.

Playing cultural and various types of music is important for the development of Baby's brain.  By exposing them to new sounds and activities surrounding those sounds, you are allowing them to think more in depth about what they are experiencing by expanding the processing skills, as well as encouraging all of those other great FOL's we KM educators LOVE to rave about!  I'll give you an example!

Polka -as adults, we don't necessarily appreciate Polka music, but lets face it; that oom-pah-pah really gives Baby something to dance to!  The importance of this: bodily control and development of motor skills (gross and fine).  I could go on and on with the various types of music and all of the amazing benefits, but I think you get the picture!

Every time you turn on the radio, Baby listens.  Every time you hum, Baby listens.  So I challenge you, parents!  Play some new and exciting music for your Babies.  I promise you, they'll listen!

Musically yours,

Briana

Bonding

One of the Foundations of Learning for this week was Bonding.  We associate bonding is something people do with one another, or by being particularly attached to an object (like a blanket, teddy bear, or toy).  Bonding, though, is so much more than just liking or being around an object.  For Baby, there is a whole additional level.

I can hear it in my head, right now -"Janie, DON'T put that in your mouth!"  This makes me grin; not because I enjoy hearing parents worry about their children, but because I know that once Baby approves of an object, the next step is to test it out.  The next step is, "Hands behind the back" when you walk through stores concentrated with breakable objects (that just BEG you to touch them...). We worry about germs, where the object has been, and what kind of stuff she/he is putting in their mouths.  I don't blame you -I'd probably freak out too!  I clean every instrument in my classroom because of this.  It is Clorox-wiped and super cleaned after every class.  What we don't realize, however, is that sticking objects in their mouth isn't just because it makes their teething mouths feel better, it orients them with the object.  Just as we adults reach out to touch something, or walk around an object to get a "better look", baby puts it in his or her mouth. 

As your child(ren) grow and explore their worlds, this will stop.  They won't be fifteen and chewing on napkins, but they will need to figure it out for a little while.  Bonding with their surroundings is important -it gives them perspective, and allows them to feel safe within their spaces.  Who doesn't love that!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick

Did you grow up on Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes?  I did, and to this very day I remember more of them than I do some of the more important things a grown up should think about!  I remember how they rhymed, how they sing-songed out of my mouth, and how much fun I had dancing to them.  What is even better is that they are good for Baby's brain! 

I was at the public library this week doing a class called "Music With Mother Goose."  When I picked the topic, I was excited to talk about all of the developmental benefits of a nursery rhyme.  When I arrived at the library to see 15 toddlers and their various grown ups, I was thrilled and excited to see what new educational spin I could create within the structure of a Nursery Rhyme.  So which ones did I pick?  Keep on reading!  These are two of my favorites, and are very good for children of all ages!

First is Jack be nimble, Jack be quick.
This little rhyme is one of my favorites because everyone can take an active role in participation.
Supplies: a stick like object.  I used a Kindermusik rhythm stick, which is appropriate for all ages.  You want to stay away from sharp objects, or ones that are falling apart. 
~Teach the children the rhyme.  This should be easy!  They'll like the sound and the rhythm of it which makes it easy and fun to learn. 

Jack be nimble

Jack be quick

Jack jump over the candle stick

                                                                                                         William Wallace for 1901 Mother Goose

~Have children imagine that the rhythm stick is their candle

~Do activity!  Have them jump, leap, hop, crawl, roll, etc. over the candle stick.

*Make sure you change your pitch and dynamics too -this makes it more fun!

So what does your little one learn from this?  Some of the concepts are...

*They learn about space and where they are

*They gain some language skills: acquisition, meter, style, etc.

*They are using their gross motor skills 

My second choice was Hickory Dickory Dock

~Supplies: None, unless you want to use a book.  That depends on you!

~Teach them the rhyme -again, this is fun and easy!                                        William Wallace for 1901 Mother Goose

Hickory Dickory Dock

The Mouse ran up the clock

The clock struck one

Down the Mouse ran

Hickor Dickory Dock

*You can read them the story first, if you'd like.  The pictures will help with association*

  

~Have children show you their "mouse fingers".  This is their first and second fingers wiggling back and forth.

~Have them mimic the mouse and what a mouse would do.

~After you've explored and played with the concept, have them use their mouse fingers to follow along with the rhyme.

So again -what does this do for your little ones? 

*If they're very small, it explores their small digits (you can use fingers and toes if you'd like!)

*If they're toddlers, you are encouraging the use of imagination!

*You are encouraging the development of fine motor skills

 You can find some really cute coloring pages for this Nursery Rhyme!

 Have I piqued your interest in Mother Goose?  I hope so!  You can find lots of great stuff on the internet as well as your local library.  I'd encourage you to search there and ask a librarian.  They're way up to speed on these things and will be able to point you in the right direction.  Want your own, though?  Try Mary Engelbreit's version found on Amazon.com.

Have a great weekend everyone!  Enjoy the sunshine and Nursery Rhymes!

Musically yours~

Baby's Place in Space

After Baby is born, every experience is new.  You smell new, their clothes and blankets smell new, their home smells new, even THEY smell new (well, different at least).  Every day, all day is full of new experiences.  How exhausting!  Sometimes to us grown-ups, one new experience a day is all we can take.  Thankfully, as we grow up and older, we find patterns and similarities that make our "new experiences" somewhat similar.

Baby, while in your belly, is wrapped up nice and tight knowing everything about your movements.  They are connected to you, and become used to your closeness and their position in your space.  After they are born, that position in your space is quickly disconnected and they are left with nothing but newness.  So -how do we give them an awareness of their space?  In their egocentric lives where they belong with us and around us is one of the most important things. 

In the Kindermusik curricula, there are exercises written specifically to expose your baby to their spaces.  The educational term for this is spatial awareness.  Up high, down low, in close to you, and away from you.  We forget that most of the time, Baby is looking at you or other people, or at your eye level, seeing things from your point of view (literally, not figuratively.  Give them some time, though, and they will!).  These exercises show them things above their eye level, and while they spend a lot of time looking at or nibbling on their adorable toes, by showing them the ground, you are showing them the carpet, your feet, shoes, etc. from a different and new perspective.

Kindermusik has created cute rhymes, games, and songs to encourage this type of awareness, and believe it or not, Baby LOVES them and learns at the same time.  One of my favorites is called "Clever Cows"

The clever cows in single file walk up the hill and stay a while.

Then black and brindle, red and brown the make a line and walk back down.

Now, you may be thinking, "how does this show my baby anything?"  I'm SO glad you asked!  You follow the directions in the rhyme, of course!  As the cows go up the hill, so does baby in a step-ladder motion.  At the top, they are extended above your head and away from your body.  As the cows climb back down the hill, they come down to the ground and back to you.  You have three new perspectives here!  You have the High, the Low, and the in between/movement view where baby can look around while in motion.  I LOOOOVE it!

While holding your baby way up high, way down low, in cuddled close, or away from your body during songs, games, bed time, car time, any time, you are creating new connections in their brain (something I talked about in this post), giving them a new perspective and yet another new experience. I encourage you to make the most of this brand new time because when they start to walk -all space is their space!



Musically yours~

Happy Springtime Celebration!

I would love to wish you all a Joyous Easter, but I also realize that some of you may not celebrate this "holiday."  So in turn, I am wishing you a Merry Springtime, in the hopes that you and your families have a marvelous weekend full of family, friends, and of course -Music!

I'd like to leave you with this happy bit of musical sunshine, for your sunshine filled Friday!

Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppin', Easter's on its way
Bringin' ev'ry girl and boy
Baskets full of Easter joy
Things to make your Easter bright and gay
He's got jelly beans for Tommy
Colored eggs for sister Sue
There's an orchid for your mommy
And an Easter bonnet too
Oh, here comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppity, Happy Easter Day
(Instrumental Break)
Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppin', Easter's on its way
Try to do the things you should
Maybe if you're extra good
He'll roll lots of Easter eggs your way
You'll wake up on Easter mornin'
And you'll know that he was there
When you find those choc'late bunnies
That he's hiding ev'rywhere
Oh, here comes Peter Cottontail
Hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppity, Happy Easter Day

Hippity hoppity, Happy Easter Day

And a sweet little musical bunny for you to color and enjoy!

Image from fun4thechildren.blogspot.com

Musically yours!