Incorporating Movement and Music into your Daily life

03/10/2015

An amazing article contributed by our friends at J’Adore Dance!

“Children: They dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music.” –William Stafford

Throughout history, movement and music have been important in shaping culture and civilization. When paired, the combination of movement and music are excellent learning tools. Incorporating movement and music into early childhood experiences can help to a lay a foundation for future learning. Here are some simple ways to include movement and music into your home.

Freeze Dance
Go and Stop: the use of opposites is an effective learning tool. Using the concept of space and place, we practice the skills of moving and stopping.
Freeze dance is a simple at home dance activity that helps your little one to develop body control and listening skills. To start choose an up beat song that will encourage your little one to move. Next, explain to your little one what is expected of them i.e. “When you hear the music, I want you to move all around the room. But when the music stops, I want you to freeze!” For children under 3 providing a clear stopping action, like stop hands, helps reinforce the importance of the freezing aspect of the game
Check out some of our favourite freeze dance songs here: http://blog.intellidance.ca/blog/6-06-2011/musical-mondays-start-and-stop-music
You can find more ideas for exploring the concept of space and place at home here:
http://blog.intellidance.ca/blog/1-12-2012/daily-dance-parties-space-and-place

Sing and play along!
Musical play at home develops your child’s rhythmic awareness and music appreciation. There are many lovely instruments to explore that are child friendly and child safe.
When choosing at home instruments it’s a good idea to choose something that you also enjoy the sound of and that your child can play independently. Shakers, drums, tambourines, and bells are all excellent choices for children 5 and under.
When introducing play and sing along activities at home choose a song that your child enjoys. Make sure to let them express themselves and experience the combined music and sound without too much instruction. Just as each adult’s reaction to music is different, so is each child’s. It helps them to build confidence when they are allowed the freedom to express themselves without inhibition.
Check out some of our favourite shaker activities here: http://blog.intellidance.ca/blog/9-03-2011/intellishakers-shake-it-beat-giveaway

Action Songs
Action Songs are also a fun way to sing, dance and learn! As well as getting their bodies moving, they can help our little ones to develop both fine and gross motor skills, increase our attention span and listening skills, increase their movement vocabulary and support the development of language and literacy skills.
If you click on the following links below, they will bring you to youtube videos of some action songs that can be done with children at varying age levels.
The first one is perfect for our wintery weather!

This next one is ocean themed, and helps to reinforce the concept of size.

This last one is perfect for babies. It helps them to learn to develop their body awareness.

If you are looking for more ways to stimulate your little one’s senses through movement and music, please visit www.intellidance.ca The Intellidance blog has a thoughtfully curated collection of activities designed to stimulate and nurture your small child’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development.