Benefit Statements Archives - Minds On Music

FOL Fridays: Have a Ball!

To a child with imagination and a parent who hasn’t forgotten the simple joys

of childlike playfulness, every object has unlimited possibilities. Ball play enables children to investigate rolling, bouncing, passing, and tossing, exercising their imaginations as well as their gross-motor skills.

Tips for parents: You can enjoy ball play indoors or out with a Gertie® ball. Gerties are squishy, catchable balls perfect for the child just learning ball skills. Add a little fun ball play music – it’s easy to put together a favorite playlist from play.kindermusik.com just by searching on the word “ball.”

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

FOL Fridays – Stop… and GO!

One aspect of self-control is inhibitory control, or the ability to stop oneself and wait. Toddlers love stop-and-go games because they allow them to practice control over their physical bodies and to revel in their mastery of this control. Inhibitory control is important in social interactions where taking turns is involved, and as such is an important skill for success in school.
In fact, studies suggest that “children who learn that they have the capacity and opportunity to exert control over their actions early in life may be more likely to learn to accept responsibility for their actions as they mature.”
(Fostering Children’s Social Competence: The Teacher’s Role by Lilian G. Katz and Diane E. McClellan)
Tips for parents: Teach your child the ASL for “stop” as seen HERE. Giving your child something to do (i.e., making the sign for “stop”) helps them be able to stop more immediately, plus it’s a fun thing for kids to learn. It is also a good non-verbal communication tool for you to have handy when there’s a need for your child to stop. You can also play a simple stop-and-go game by singing and moving, stopping at the end of the song with the ASL “stop” sign, and going again with as many more verses as you can stand!

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

FOL Fridays: Listening

Focused listening activities are part of every Kindermusik class. Why is the skill of listening so important? Being able to focus on, listen carefully to, and distinguish sounds is an important skill in school, work, team play, and even friendship-building. Becoming a focused and

discriminating listener will help your child become a better, happier, more well-rounded learner.

IDEA: Plan a toy hunt! Hide a couple of toys, then instead of saying “You’re getting warmer” or “You’re getting cooler,” use your voice or an instrument. High sounds can mean the seeker is getting closer, while low sounds can indicate the seeker is getting farther away. Then it’s your turn—let your child hide the toys and guide you, the seeker, with high and low sounds.

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