Posted by Theresa Case |
Filed under kindermusik, kids, music, brain
Posted January 29, 2010
Did you know...
...providing musical experiences in the early years gives your child benefits that last a lifetime? How does it affect your child. Well, growth may be observed in any or all of the following areas as a result of early and consistent exposure to music:
perseverance, confidence, responsibility, identity and self-esteem, discipline, love of music, art, culture, identification of talents, using time wisely, teamwork, following directions, intellectual and social development, precision and motor control, overcoming fears in public speaking and shyness, commitment to excellence, creativity, and self-expression.
Music is so important. Research supports this claim, and we at Kindermusik see it first hand every day. So make sure your child is getting exposure to music. It's a vital piece of the learning puzzle.
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Posted by Theresa Case |
Filed under benefits, skills, children, development, kindermusik
Posted January 25, 2010
Preschoolers love new things. Have you considered trying sign language with your preschool agers? Not only is it fun and an additional way to communicate, they'll love having a "secret" language to share with you.
Sign language can come in handy and is easily learned by preschooler. Use signing to:
– create an environment for understanding without words
– help children avoid frustration when words don’t come easily
– foster language refinement – they can use signs to clarify
– provide ways to communicate with non-hearing people
– help them focus attention more directly since signing requires eye-contact (children are often overloaded with sound)
– foster self-esteem by giving children more control in expressing themselves
– channel kinetic energy positively
– have an option for stopping poor behavior in a calm, quiet way
Here are some resources to check out on signing:
ASL - American Sign Language Resources
An article on sign language and autisum
Sign & Sing - Kindermusik's signing class for children ages 6 months to 3 years
-by Kindermusik educator Theresa Case. Theresa's Kindermusik program, Kindermusik at Piano Central Studios, is in the top 1% of all programs in the world.
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Posted by Theresa Case |
Filed under baby, childhood, children, connections, educators, kindermusik, laughter, music, village
Posted January 20, 2010
Yes, Kindermusik is for kids of all ages. No doubt about it. Their ears open and their eyes widen. They blossom before your very eyes in music class.
But here's something you may not have considered: Kindermusik is for parents too! In fact, parents tell us that they get as much out of Kindermusik as their kids do. Think about it -- with Kindermusik you have a special time each week that's set aside just for you and your child. In class, you'll learn all kinds of great things you can do at home to help your child continue to grow. What parent doesn't love that?
Parents in our Village (age newborn to 18 months) especially tell us that they can't wait to get to class to socialize and connect with other adults. Many lasting friendships have formed on a Kindermusik mat. (Check out this great story about a singing duo who met at Kindermusik.) At Kindermuisk you're surrounded by parents who have a child the same age as yours, so it's easy to make connections.
So, yeah, your child will love Kindermusik. But we're pretty sure you'll be looking forward to class just as much!
Click here sign up for a free kindermusik class and see if it's right for your child. ...And you!
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Posted by Theresa Case |
Filed under baby, benefits, brain, childhood, children, connections, development, early, health, kids, kindermusik, laughter, play, young children
Posted January 15, 2010
One of our recent posts at Minds on Music highlighted the developmental benefits of play.
We all know that play is important to a child. Playing with your child can make a cranky toddler smile. Getting your baby to laugh more means less time spent crying. And the bonus: spending time playing with your child will put a smile on your face, too! Check out this article for more resources and tips on how to make play an easy, natural part of your everyday routine.
http://www.salisburypost.com/Lifestyle/120609-Emily-Ford-Sunday-People-column-baby-games
P.S. Want to learn even more ways to play with your baby or toddler, while they gain key developmental benefits? Consider trying a Kindermusik class. Click here to find a class near you, then click the "Free Preview Class" button to try a class at no cost and no obligation.
-by Kindermusik educator Theresa Case. Theresa's Kindermusik program, Kindermusik at Piano Central Studios, is in the top 1% of all programs in the world.
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Posted by Theresa Case |
Filed under
Posted January 6, 2010
We call it play, the work children do all the day long. From rolling a ball to mouthing it, from building with blocks to knocking them down, a child’s job is to play.
Children learn and grow through play. Toys that mimic every day objects such as kitchen appliances, dress-up clothes, or gardening tools help a child to act out what he sees the grown-ups doing. Toys that specifically encourage creativity, like blocks, scarves, and Legos equip children as they use their ever-amazing minds to construct and pretend.
“Given its all-consuming and pervasive nature, it is not surprising that play makes major contributions to growth and development during the preschool years.” (p. 61) The Preschool Years: Family Strategies That Work – From Experts and Parents by Ellen Galinsky and Judy David. According to the authors, here are seven benefits of play:
1. Play fosters a positive self-concept.
2. Play promotes language development.
3. Play stimulates thinking and problem-solving.
4. Play enables children to understand the world.
5. Play is a forum for children to express and resolve their feelings.
6. Play enhances creativity.
7. Play develops social skills and social thinking.
As parents, we want our children to have the best toys to help with their development. After all, creating a stimulating home environment is the least we can do. But the most important play-thing that your child can have does not come in a box or from a store. Children need the significant adults in their lives to stop, sit, and become co-workers at play. It’s easy to delight a child with a new toy and walk away. But what a child needs most is intentional and personal interaction with the adults in her life as she learns and grows.
It’s hard to take a break from what we view as important: work-related issues, financial problems, or the upkeep of a home. But investing daily in the lives of our children by sitting down with them, allowing them the freedom to choose what to play, following them and labeling their actions, and resisting the urge to organize and perfect their play is the most important work that you can do as a parent.
The simple act of investing time, do it today. A few minutes will make a lifetime of difference.
-by Kindermusik educator Theresa Case. Theresa's Kindermusik program, Kindermusik at Piano Central Studios, is in the top 1% of all programs in the world. Additional contributions by Mollie Greene.
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Posted by Theresa Case |
Filed under benefits, brain, childhood, children, development, kids, kindermusik, music, schools, skills,
Posted November 30, 2009
Posted November 30, 2009
"Some of the sweetest hours of life, on retrospect, will be found to have been spent with books." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Here are some suggestions for choosing the best books according to your child’s age:
birth – 1 year
Look for small, brightly colored books with photos of babies and familiar objects like balls and bottles. Draw attention to the objects by saying things like, “Look at the ball,” or point to pictures and ask, “What’s that?”
1 – 2 years
Look for sturdier books that can be handled and carried; few words on the pages or simple rhyming themes. Talk about the pictures — you don’t necessarily have to read the book to tell the story.
2 – 3 years
Look for silly or funny books with subjects like food, animals, or making friends. Simple word books are good choices. Keep stories short and read them with few interruptions. Then, re-read them.
3 – 4 years
Look for books that tell simple stories with a beginning, a middle, and end; stories that relate to life, like overcoming fear; information books about children’s interests. As you read ask your child questions about the story: “What do you think will happen next? Why?” Keep them engaged.
5 – 6 years
Look for stories and information books that evoke children’s lively imagination and interests; books about space, machines, time, and other cultures. Ask your child to tell you what interests her most about the story. Use open-ended questions to encourage her to relate her ideas. Allow her to ask questions as you read.
For some tried and true kiddie lit favorites, browse some of these websites:
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio: The Independent Guide to Children’s Media
Caldecott Award Winners
100 Best Books (as selected by the National Educators Association in 1999)
Best Children’s Books by Age (as chosen by Parents magazine)
-by Kindermusik educator Theresa Case. Theresa's Kindermusik program, Kindermusik at Piano Central Studios, is in the top 1% of all programs in the world.
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Posted by Theresa Case |
Filed under kindermusik, village, our time, music, relaxing music, quiet time
Posted October 8, 2009
Posted October 8, 2009
Just as your child needs stimulation and engagement in age-appropriate activities, she also needs periods of relaxation. This is one of the reasons why Kindermusik Village and Our Time classes include Quiet Time in every class. But a “quiet time” isn’t only for young children; it’s also beneficial for older children as well. And times set aside for relaxation are just as important at home as they are in the Kindermusik classroom.
Creating regular quiet times at home gives your child practice in learning to calm herself, slow her pace, and relax. Plus it helps her develop a valuable lifelong skill – the skill of learned relaxation. Slow, gentle music can best provide an environment most conducive to relaxation.
So take a few moments to relax and listen to some beautiful music. You’ll love how good it makes you – and your child – feel!
Here are a few ideas for quiet time music to get you started:
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