Kindermusik International

How Musical Play Boosts Youth Sports Performance

What does early musical play have to do with youth sports? If you’re thinking of signing your toddler or preschooler up for t-ball, soccer, gymnastics, etc., take a look at these links between athletic ability and intentional music and movement. You may be surprised at how much it can help little ones gain confidence early in their sports journeys, and how much longer it might help them stick with it.

3 Ways to Teach Creativity to Young Kids

How to teach creativity and nurture it often gets lumped into “the arts,” but creativity is about so much more than that. It has to do with asking the right questions, encouraging pretend play in different settings, providing starting points and watching (or nurturing vs leading) the problem-solving at work.

One of the best places to turn up the volume on creative learning is outside. We asked Co-Founder and Chief Learning Officer of Tinkergarten (now part of Highlights for Children) Meghan Fitzgerald, some of her team’s favorite go-tos when it comes to breaking down creativity into digestible, reachable, and teachable ideas for teachers and families. Here’s what she had to say.

How Music Affects the Science of Reading

A mother taps out a beat to a song in Kindermusik class. Practicing steady beat is one way to support the science of reading.

The Science of Reading is kind of a buzzword these days in the early education and parenting worlds, but what does it really mean and what role does music play?

In a nutshell, the Science of Reading is a catch-all term for the massive amounts of research that look at how our brains learn to read through decoding, phonemic awareness, and more. It doesn’t just happen, it’s science, and educators around the world are tapping into its framework.

What might be missing from traditional classrooms and at-home efforts? Music!

How Pre- and Postnatal Singing Support Secure Attachment

Mom sings to baby in a Kindermusik class to promote secure attachment.

The bond between caregiver and infant is one of the most critical factors in positive whole-child development, and the keyword is secure attachment.

Secure attachment doesn’t mean constant baby-wearing or helicopter parenting—it does mean a consistent series of positive and nurturing interactions between caregivers and infants that form the foundation for healthy social-emotional and cognitive growth.

So, how do you know if you’re making these connections happen? Singing can help.

3 Musical Ways to Support Neurodivergent Learners

Child dances to music with scarves. Interpretive dance is an ideal multisensory outlet for neurodivergent learners.

It may seem counterintuitive, but neurodivergent learners thrive with the right multi-sensory activities. Music—a multi-sensory activity that stimulates all parts of the brain at once—promotes everything from self-regulation to emotional expression.

And that turns tricky transitions and long days into beautiful learning moments (for children and their special grownups).

Why High-Pitched Kid Songs Belong on Your Playlist

Did you know that babies can’t focus on or imitate sounds in a low pitch? It’s OK to sing your favorite low-pitched song to your little one, but mixing in high-pitched kid songs in a head voice is critical to boosting young children’s natural development.

3 Ways to Build Grownup Social-Emotional Growth

A mom dances and builds social-emotional growth with her daughter in a Kindermusik class.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) for children has been a huge focus in early childhood development over the past 10 years, but what about “Grownup Social-Emotional Growth?” It turns out, it’s just as critical for parents and caregivers to fill this specific brain bucket on a daily basis.

Not to be confused with a fancy face mask or a day at the beach, The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines SEL as “the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.”

And while it can be hard to focus with little ones around, it’s important to recognize that parents and caregivers shouldn’t put social-emotional growth on hold for alone time.

Simple Gifts for Kids: Batteries Not Required

Sandblocks and other handheld instruments are perfect gifts for older toddlers.

Is your head spinning in a whirlpool of holiday ads? Remember this: simple gifts for kids will keep on giving.

Between Black Friday deals, Cyber Monday savings, and all the other holiday sales, it’s hard to research before you buy. The one piece of research you can always count on?Simple toys are BEST for early childhood development.

Stay stress-free this season with our Top 5 Tips for Buying the Perfect Simple Gifts for Kids.

Continue reading “Simple Gifts for Kids: Batteries Not Required”

Why Toddler Music Lessons Aren’t the Best Idea

Stressing about whether or not toddler music lessons are worth it?

They’re not and here’s why…

Why Music In Schools Post COVID Is Critical

Remember when music in schools campaigns really took off in the 90s? The quest to make music a standard part of the “3 Rs:” Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, still isn’t over.

Wait…only one of those starts with an R!

Aside from the letter discrepancy, the narrow focus of the 3Rs is outdated. So, how can we get all schools on board with a modernized view of early learning?

First, we need a new acronym. And here’s why music should get its own letter.