Music

Toddlers

What We Saw: A teacher started playing some music during a choice time in the classroom. Four children heard the music and came rushing over to the tape player. They gathered on the rug and started dancing to the music. The teacher who had put on the music observed the children and then passed out scarves to each child. The children waved the scarves around while dancing. Another teacher brought out some instruments and the children experimented using cymbals, shakers, and tambourines. The children were laughing, smiling and experimenting with their bodies, the scarves and the instruments to the music.

What It Means: All toddler programs should make music and movement activities a priority in their classroom. Children learn to think with their bodies well before they learn to talk, so movement is an important part of their life. When toddlers participate in music and movement, they become more in tune to their bodies and develop better body awareness as a result. Body Awareness creates an understanding of what limbs and muscles feel like, and the ability to locate one's body parts. Music and movement helps develop coordination and gross motor skills and give children an opportunity to creatively express themselves. Creative Expression involves using movement to express feelings or ideas. Adding props such as scarves and instruments give children more ways to experience how they can integrate their movement and actions into the rhythm, beat or mood of the music.

Mixed Ages

What We Saw: The children were gathering together after breakfast for choice time. The teacher walked around the room and sang, "Good morning, good morning to you" as children were starting to engage in play. Some children hummed along. Others later sang good morning to each other. It was clean up time. The teacher sang, I see (child's name) cleaning up. She used each child's name while singing and clapping a rhythm with her hands. She sang and clapped fast, slow, soft and loud. Clean up was finished quickly and easily. Before lunch, the teacher sang, "If you take your shoes off and wash your hands, we'll eat lunch." The children started singing along and easily followed directions. One child started singing about the lunch; "Cucumber is so yummy for me."

What It Means: Children are natural partners with music and rhythm. Often singing directions will gain the cooperation and attention of children more than saying them. Music sets a pleasant atmosphere in the classroom. It says to a child, "I am enjoying being here with you and I am showing it with my voice". By listening to adults sing without reservation, children are encouraged to experiment with their voices. This experimentation leads to self-discovery and a healthy way to find pleasure in something you can always carry with you - your voice.

Back

More Music Promising Practices