By Mouse Whipp

Do we move around during Our Time? Of course we do!  Moving to music stimulates many developmental stages in a child’s growth and understanding! A child moves up and down before learning the words “up” and “down.”Their dancing changes from simply jogging up and down to include arm movements and a variety of steps.

The types of movements experience in Our Time include:

¯   Finger plays, songs and chants:  Activities to explore and label parts of the body and practice moving small muscles.

¯   Movement demonstrating steady beat:  In every lesson you’ll find synchronized movement which fosters the development of and steady beat by requiring coordination with the beat of another person or musical selection. Developing beat awareness require learning to listen.  Feeling this steady beat allows groups to sing, chant, dance, or play instruments together, reinforcing connectedness to a group.  A basic sense of beat also is necessary for smooth speech flow, walking with coordination, bouncing a ball, or using scissors.

¯   Spatial awareness and exploration:  Our Time lessons provide further opportunities for spatial exploration, an awareness of one’s body in relation to personal and general space:

• the where of movement: around/through, over/under, up/down, inside/outside
• the speed of movement: fast/slow
• the direction of movement:  here/there
• the pathway of movement: straight/curved
• the size of movement: big/little
• the location of movement: locomotor/non-locomotor (traveling through space/anchored to one spot)

¯   Group dances and circles games:  Frequently the social highlight of the Our Time lesson, they also nurture the growth of steady beat, social awareness, and the development of ensemble skills.

¯   Expressive movement:  As the child’s imagination, movement repertoires and understanding of music concepts grows, his individual expressive movement emerges.  Scarves and other props provide stimulation and enhance movement.

By Mouse Whipp

A child’s first and most important teacher are the parents. Our Time activities is fun and great for the children, but it is also geared toward parents. It is normal for the parents to want to jump right in to help their child, but it’s also important to sit back and watch, wait and wonder.  Each time a child is given the opportunity to do things his or her way, self-confidence is being developed.  We also encourage parents to become available of the At Home Materials that will be handed out the first couple of weeks of the semester.  We love to hear stories about the enjoyment families have with their toddler singing and dancing away with the CD included in the At Home Material pack!

By Mouse Whipp

Classes are now forming for Our Time and Imagine That! 18 months – 5 years olds.  Contact me soon to reserve your spot.  Classes will be Wednesdays and Thursdays November – March.

GOALS OF KINDERMUSIK IMAGINE THAT!:

• Singing & vocal development
• Movement activities designed for coordination in 3-5 year olds
• Rhythmic & melodic development
• Musical concepts
• Pretend play
• Literacy & language development
• Focused listening
• Drama & storytelling
• Creativity
• Instrument exploration
• Peer/adult interaction
• School readiness preparation

NEXT POST: What does parent involvement in Imagine That! classes look like?