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Talk to me, please!

mom and baby engage in conversationRecent research sparked this striking headline in an AFP article:  “Baby talk is more than just bonding: chatting with your infant spurs important brain development that sets the stage for lifelong learning…”  
So, exactly HOW do you go about having these vital conversations with your baby, you ask?  Well, you’ve come to the right place.  At Kindermusik, we love sharing tips that make great parenting a little bit easier, help your child advance developmentally, and make your lives a whole lot more musical.

  • Start the conversation habit at a young age.  There’s a window of opportunity in the early years when the brain is undergoing incredible growth.
  • Look your baby in the eye when you talk to him or her.  Feeding time, bath time, baby massage, or diaper changes are all easy opportunities to engage your baby.
  • Speak to your baby using regular vocabulary and full sentences.  This helps your child develop a wider vocabulary and process spoken language better.
  • Give your child a chance to respond.  If you talk and then wait for a response, this will cue your baby to coo or babble back.
  • Sing to your child.  Young children benefit tremendously from the repetition of words and even from new or different words found in song lyrics.
  • Play with rhymes.  Whether it’s words you rhyme or simple children’s poems, chants, fingerplays, or toe tickles, rhyming not only enhances language development, but it also paves the way to literacy.

Benefits Of Music for ChildrenNeed some inspiration for talking or singing to your baby?  Enroll in a Kindermusik!  You’ll receive tips and ideas in class and interactive Home Materials to help the music, learning, and fun last through the week at home.  It’s easy to get started with a free preview class, or simply by finding your local licensed Kindermusik educator.
 

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Music & Movement Benefits: Why and How to Sing to Your Child

Most of us have some songs we can recall from our childhood.  Start singing and the tune and the words will probably come back to you.  And if you’re in a Kindermusik class, you are enjoying a growing repertoire of songs to pull out and sing for almost any occasion!
Why Sing
Singing to a child is a priceless gift.  It doesn’t matter if you feel like your voice is not star quality; to your child, the sound of your voice is the best sound in the whole world.  According to Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine (Dec/Jan 1999), singing with and to your child can:

  • calm when upset, soothe fears, and reduce irritability;
  • enhance a child’s grasp of language and sense of beauty;
  • remind a child that he/she is cherished and loved;
  • improve communication and intimate bonding between parent and child.

How to Sing

  • Bounce your child in your lap and sing a song together.
  • Pick out individual words or groups of words from the song and let your child echo you.  Change your voice, using lots of inflection.
  • Accompany yourselves by tapping wooden or plastic spoons together with a beat.
  • Dance while you sing.
  • Put your own words to a song – whatever fits the occasion or the task at hand.
  • Let a song inspire dress-up and pretend play.

Take the song, “The Muffin Man,” for example.  The words are:
Do you know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man?
Do you know the muffin man who lives in Drury Lane?
Yes, I know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man.
Yes, I know the muffin man who lives in Drury Lane.
You can have fun singing, adapting, and playing with this song in many ways.  Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

  • Try inserting another occupation, like “the bakery lady,” “the lawn mower man,” “the fireman,” or “our doctor friend.”
  • Substitute your own street name for Drury Lane.
  • Accompany yourself by tapping a spoon on a muffin pan.
  • Explore the many different kinds of sounds you can make as you tap, rub, or scrape the muffin tin.
  • Create a muffin game.
  • Put on an apron and/or a chef’s hat and then bake some muffins together – or just pretend to do so!
  • Play with the question and answer part of the song.
  • Come up with your own muffin song.

Shared by Theresa Case, who has an award-winning Kindermusik program at Piano Central Studios in Greenville, SC.
 

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4 musical learning tips that make parenting a little bit easier

It doesn’t take a parent long to figure it out. No baby or toddler or preschooler—or teenager for that matter!—comes with an owner’s manual. Sure, parents can Google, look to books and blogs, talk with other parents, and even ask Siri but there is no one-size-fits-all answer to parenting.
At Kindermusik, we don’t have all the parenting answers either. We do, however, have one thing that makes parenting just a little bit easier and unlocks a child’s potential: Musical learning! Here are just a few ways to use musical learning throughout the week in your everyday routines and rituals.

4 musical learning tips that make parenting a little bit easier

  1. Music helps children, even babies, learn how to relax. Relaxing is a learned sleeping babybehavior. A child’s world can be full of stimulating experiences, from practicing new skills like standing or walking to all the sights, sounds, and smells of a trip to the grocery store. Teaching children how to relax after a period of activity gives them time to recoup and get ready for what’s next. Listening to some quiet music, snuggling together, or gentle rocking can show children how to relax. By the way, children who know how to relax and self-soothe can be better sleepers!
  2. Singing or humming a comforting song can soothe a child or ease anxiety and fears. From 2am feedings to boo-boos to thunderstorms to visits to the doctor, singing a soothing song can calm fears and comfort little ones in many different situations. The world’s most famous and revered nanny, Mary Poppins agrees. After all, she sang, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”
  3. Music can signal to your child it’s time to transition to something else. In our music classes for babies, toddlers, big kids, and families, we sing “instruments away, instruments away. It’s time to put our instruments away.” That tells every child that the instrument playing time is over and we are moving on to another activity. After a few times, children begin to understand and will put the instruments away (most of the time!).  Try using that little song throughout the week to signal the end of bathtime, playtime, or even time to leave the park.
  4. Make a playlist of your child’s favorite music for your next road trip. Few children enjoy being strapped in their car seats for long periods of time. Music makes it easier. Create a playlist of your child’s favorite Kindermusik songs for the trip. Here are some of our favorites. Mix in your own favorites, too, for a family musical playlist.

New benefits of music on the cognitive development of children continue to be discovered by researchers. However, throughout the years generations upon generations of parents have used musical learning to help make parenting just a little bit easier. We invite you to come visit a Kindermusik class and discover for yourself a loving, welcoming community of families who are discovering the power of musical learning!

Find a local Kindermusik educator in your area today.

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The Power of the Lullaby

bigstockphoto_Happy_Mom_1646790Once again, research proves what we parents have known instinctively for a long time… that playing music and singing lullabies has the power to soothe, lower stress, strengthen bonds, and improve sleeping patterns.
Kindermusik has long recognized the power of music especially when it comes to child brain development, but we specifically use lullabies because of the emotional and health benefits.  In fact, we include a lullaby or rocking song in every one of our baby music classes and toddlers classes.  And just in case you’re wondering, some of our favorite Kindermusik lullabies include:

  • You Are My Sunshine
  • Golden Slumbers
  • May There Always Be Sunshine
  • Hush, Little Baby
  • Tell Me Why
  • That’s An Irish Lullaby

By the way, what researchers found most impacting was for these little ones to hear the voices of their loved ones singing – a special reminder that the most important people in a child’s life are his/her parents and close family members and that nothing is sweeter than the sound of your voice in your child’s ears.

Read more about this fascinating study conducted with preemies in the neonatal intensive care unit at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.

Find more Kindermusik lullabies and download them from play.kindermusik.com.  Simply search on “lullaby.”

Learn more Kindermusik lullabies and songs when you enroll in a Kindermusik class.  Try a FREE class on us today!

Shared by Theresa Case, who has an award-winning Kindermusik program at Piano Central Studios in beautiful Upstate South Carolina

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The Parent Test

“My child is so unique and special! I want to be the best parent that I can possibly be for my child.” As parents, isn’t this our heart’s desire?

We search to find just the right activities and experiences that will benefit our children and help them grow to their fullest potential, such as baby development classes or toddler music classes. We check reviews, ask friends, and spend countless hours to find and decide on just the right toys, foods, books, music, play, clothes, activities for toddlers, and the list goes on… Everything that touches the lives of our children must pass THE ultimate test – the PARENT TEST!

This unwritten Parent Test is full of many questions and concerns that automatically become an ingrained part of our thought process. Many times these questions are so automatic that they become almost instinctive. If you took the time to write it down, your Parent Test may look a little like this:

  • I want my child’s LANGUAGE skills to develop. Does this help my child develop a love for books and reading?
  • I know early learning is important for my child’s COGNITIVE development. Is this helping my child learn something new in an age-appropriate and enjoyable way?
  • Healthy EMOTIONAL development is key to growing into a confident and secure individual. Does this help strengthen the parent-child bond and help my child feel good about himself?
  • My child needs an opportunity to develop PHYSICALLY. How can I help my child actively explore skills like running, jumping, galloping, and skipping?
  • My child and I both need a SOCIAL outlet. Is there a place where we both can benefit from a positive group experience that also teaches my child social skills like sharing, playing cooperatively, and making friends?
  • I recognize the importance of MUSIC for my child’s total development. Does this teach and inspire my child to be more musical, to be prepared for music lessons in the future, and ultimately, to have instilled a lifelong love for and enjoyment of music?

For over 30 years, Kindermusik has passed the Parent Test with flying colors, time and time again. That’s because the powerful combination of the Kindermusik classroom experience and our Home Materials empower parents to instill a lifelong love of music and learning and capitalize on all of the rich benefits of music for children during that critical window of early learning.

It’s also because our research and experience has shown time and time again that music and movement are the best vehicles for helping a child reach his or her fullest potential in every developmental category – language, cognitive, emotional, physical, social, and music.

Kindermusik - Where Music and Learning PlaySimply stated, there is no better way to enhance your child’s early development and learning or to inspire their natural love of music than Kindermusik.

We invite you to experience the magic of Kindermusik for yourself. Try a free

class today!

Edited and revised by Theresa Case, whose Kindermusik program at Piano Central Studios in Greenville, SC, is proudly among the top 1% of Kindermusik programs worldwide.

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How to Help Your Child Become a Better Reader

benefits of reading with young childrenWe all know that reading to our children is an important part of their intellectual and emotional development. But why is this so?  Susan B. Neuman, professor of childhood studies at the University of Michigan, gives some insight.
Dr. Neuman points out that reading is fun, stimulates the imagination, provides knowledge of the world and life, including problems and the solving of problems. Language development is also strengthened by hearing words being read aloud. Children who are read a variety of books on a daily basis also develop a sense of community, an understanding of “what it means to be human,” and to learn empathy as they are introduced to cultures and people that are different than their own.
Most parents are already convinced of the importance of reading, but with so many children’s books on the market, it can be hard to know which books are best.  Here are some simple tips for choosing – and reading! – 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 teh 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.
Compiled by Theresa Case, whose Kindermusik program at Piano Central Studios in Greenville, SC, is proudly among the top 1% of Kindermusik programs worldwide.

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Choosing Great Children's Books

We all know that reading to our children is an important part of their intellectual and emotional development. But why is this so? Parent and Child Magazine explains in an insightful article by Susan B. Neuman, a professor of childhood studies.
Reading is fun, stimulates the imagination, provides knowledge of the world and life, including problems and the solving of problems. Language development is also strengthened by hearing words being read aloud. Children who are read a variety of books on a daily basis also develop a sense of community, an understanding of “what it means to be human,” and to learn empathy as they are introduced to cultures and people that are different than their own.
The rest of the article on reading to kids can be viewed online, but the efficient and helpful “Choosing Books” break-down is not, so here you go!

Choosing Books by 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 to improve their early literacy skills.

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 book recommendations by a Kindermusik educator, check out these lists from SoundSteps, an award-winning Kindermusik Maestro program in Dallas, TX:
Books to Read with Babies
Must-Read Books for Toddlers
Books for Big Kids
Shared by Theresa Case, whose Kindermusik program at Piano Central Studios in Greenville, SC, is proudly among the top 1% of Kindermusik programs worldwide.

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Inspiration vs. Action – and Sunday Thoughts from Wendell Berry

This all-encompassing interview from the 2009 Wisconsin Book Festival, “Wendell Berry Talks About Life,” was the perfect thing to wake up to on a Sunday morning.

Whether you’re familiar or unfamiliar with Wendell Berry, hearing his story and convictions towards the slow food movement, environmental justice, healthy local communities, returning war veterans in the age of technology, mindfulness, and the U.S. government’s agricultural influence since World War II helped center our thoughts at the week’s end. Berry reminds us that BIG QUESTIONS do not always have BIG ANSWERS. Humans will only survive if we live the mysteries, and work on a local level to improve and simplify our communities.
Admittedly, one of the most poignant points Berry makes is this:
Q: “As an essayist and cultural critic who has written a fair amount about community, what is your view of newly emerging digital communities? Are they credible forms of community?”
A: “We’re just flooded with language, which means that we’ve got to be careful about language. You can speak of ‘digital communities’ if you want to. All I ask is that you recognize that you’re using a metaphor. A real community is the people and the place and everything else that’s in it.”
…a sobering reminder that reading is half of our responsibility towards stewardship, and more importantly, towards personal wellbeing. Inspiration from blogs, social media, and television is indispensable, but action should be the result.
What will you do today to make the world a better place?

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A few of the helpers …

Parents and Kindermusik Educators share ways they found to be “people who are helping” in the aftermath of the Newtown Elementary School tragedy.

The parent: “We can’t undo this. But we can dig in and help.”
Emily Lampish

The parent, photographer and blogger turned her frustration towards finding ways to help. And she wraps up a few ways in this blog post, “broken.” Suggestions include donation links to the Newton Memorial Fund and the Connecticut United Way, tips to help children grieve, and a link to send a message of love and support to grieving families.

broken

The expert: “Using a caring and matter-of-fact face and voice, adults can help kids by making true statements that contain a positive message. ”
Irene van der Zande

In this article, Irene gives parents and educators phrases that both acknowledge the truth the work being done to keep children safe. For example, “I am sad that this happened, and we are all going to work on ways to be safe everywhere.” If a child asks a tough question, and you don’t know the answer, say “I don’t know.” The fine line is learning to help young people to express their feelings without making them take care of your feelings.

Helping Children Regain Emotional Safety

The advocate: School Shootings: The Conversation You Need to Have With Your Kids
parents.com

A list of simple questions that starts with “What have you heard?” “What are your friends saying?” and finally, “How can we help these families?”

Parents.com

The parent who needs help, right now: “I am Adam Lanza’s Mother”
Liza Long

The writer, musician, Steinway lover, and single mother of four journals the chilling challenges of raising a lovable, intelligent, and sometimes violent child.

“I am sharing this story because I am Adam Lanza’s mother. I am Dylan Klebold’s and Eric Harris’s mother. I am Jason Holmes’s mother. I am Jared Loughner’s mother. I am Seung-Hui Cho’s mother. And these boys—and their mothers—need help. In the wake of another horrific national tragedy, it’s easy to talk about guns. But it’s time to talk about mental illness.”

Thinking the Unthinkable

The Kindermusik Educator: “Music is a balm”
Helen Peterson

Kindermusik Educator Helen Peterson sent an email to her families with a few tips to help parents and their children. “Remember to take care of yourselves by being in conversation with other adults, and help those you know who may be struggling.”

mindsonmusic.kindermusik.com

And finally, a note to our Kindermusik Educators around the world who are opening their classrooms to families seeking comfort: There are more resources and information you can share with your families – or use to help yourself – posted to the Teacher’s Lounge.

Sign in to the Teacher’s Lounge