What a fun semester we have had! It went by fast (for me!) but we have covered a LOT!
The first part of our semester, we were in the "Feathers" unit. It had a focus on BIRDS! Did you try the "bird chorus" at home during a fussy time for baby? Isn't it amazing how those rhythmic little songs really calm our little ones? It is like baby hypnotism, I tell you!
Here are the words and actions if you would like to continue to do this at home:
Each little bird chorus is repeated 4 times. (If you have more than one singer available, remember that they sound great as a round!)
Chick-a-dee-dee-dee (Side step)
Coo-koo, Chhh-chhh (Up-Down, Side-Side)
Hummingbird Hummmm (Lunge forward, step back)
Bright Red Cardinal! (Up----Down)
YOGA!
We have been doing some yoga to increase our little one's circulation, flexibility, and even digestion and congestion!
Some you can try at home are:
- ROLIO (Knees to the chest and roll knees together in a large circle)
- GUPPY (Lay baby over upper legs with head lower than chest--a great chest expander for easing congestion--especially in the morning!)
- HALF BOW (Baby on tummy--Reach right hand back to right foot/Left hand back to left foot)
EXERCISE!
Moving those arms and legs increases flexibility as well as builds muscle memory! When we alternate movements, we really stimulate the child's whole brain--both hemispheres are engaged. The cross lateral stretch is a good example of this---Right hand to left toe and then STRETCH out! Alternate arms and legs to ensure even treatment of each side. The hand/foot should meet at the mid line and then STRE---ETCH----OUT to a nice diagonal stretch!
DANCING!
Dancing and movement are so SOOOO good for your baby! It helps their balance and coordination, helps them to FEEL the steady beat in music, and also helps their visual tracking. Dance with your baby at home. It brings so much joy to their day!
In class we have done several dances (and several MORE are coming our way in the 2nd half of Kindermusik!) We did the "DUCK DANCE" in a line. This was a rhythmic dance with a nice drum beat that the kids loved. The side step helps to feel that steady beat. The rise and fall of the music paired with lowering and raising the kids UP HIGH is a great way to help the child feel the pitch and dynamics of the song. Plus, it is repetitive, so they can start to predict when it is coming. It was so much fun to hear those giggles and see those big smiles during this part! Doing the dance in two lines and facing a different direction on each verse helps the babies get a "new view" each verse!
Our Kindermusik Book, This Is My Dance, is another chance to move to the rhythm of the words. Each page has a different movement and each page has a repetitive part that is so very catchy---"BOOM Pa-Pa, BOOM Pa-Pa, Tango Cha CHA! 1-2-3, Waltz with me! Boom Pa Pa Pa!" Here we are "experiencing" the book in an active, rather than passive, way!
EGGS!Steady beat is the basic foundation of music, but is also important in walking, cutting with scissors and even dribbling a basketball someday! We have enjoyed gaining some steady beat with our shaker instruments! Here are some happy shakers!
SCARF PLAY!
Where's the baby?? There she is!! Peek-a-boo play is a great way to teach cause and effect, and also Piaget's concept of object permanence! We use scarves a lot in the Village class. It makes for fun play and is also very soothing and comforting to the little ones. It just NEVER gets old to hide under a scarf and then PEEK-A-BOO out! Have you noticed HOW MANY times your child can repeat this simple activity and NEVER lose the enthusiasm? Oh, to be young again! :)
JINGLES!
Sometimes known as the baby lollypop, these jingles sometimes double as a teether! Ha! Your baby experiences many things orally, so don't be surprised when your baby wants to mouth new things! Try not to hinder this--unless it is something harmful. This is an important part of their learning. Many new concepts are learned and those dendrites in their developing brains are FIRING when they experience objects in this way. (We disinfect all our instruments, so rest assured when they put them in their mouths!) It's all about discovering their world!
SLEDS!
Riding on the sleds helps us to FEEL the steady beat as we glide and bounce along to the music. Doing zig zags, circles, and bounces triggers our vestibular system, vital to our inner sense of balance and coordination.
We have used these soft beads to work on stacking and threading! Stacking and Threading are great ways to build hand-eye coordination and build hand control and finger skills. ***At home, you can stack with toy blocks, tupperware, about anything! You can thread by getting a long sock and a toilet paper tube, or just use their own sleeve or pant leg and a washcloth to let them work on pulling it out/through!
BUCKETS
Oh, the possibilities----Is it a drum, a hat, a step stool, a little bumper car? What will your bucket be? Babies love to explore, and something as simple as a bucket can become SO many things!
BOUNCY BALLS and SLEDS!
Riding the sleds and bouncing on the big bouncy balls helps the little ones to really begin to FEEL the beat of the song, as well as the different "textures" in music. Smooth, bumpy, zig-zag, fast, slow.....you name it. All of these variances are triggering baby's vestibular system as well as ingraining that underlying pulse/beat in music.
There was so much FUN and LEARNING for these little learners this semester! Thank you for investing in this experience for your little one. You are building a foundation for learning that will last a lifetime! Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Let me know or jot your comments here in the blog! I am here to help and welcome your active participation in your child's learning!
Join us again!
Tricia :)
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