Kindergarten readiness rocks today with some rockstar dancing. Dancing promotes all kinds of brain connections and physical development . When I was doing some recent blog posts on using the 5 senses for learning and brain development, I learned that we can add 2 more. Besides taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing we have the sense of movement and the sense of our body position in space. This sense of movement is tremendously important for all learning.
At the next presentation to a group of parents and caregivers about helping kids with learning, I could include this question:
Think of how we use exercise to build muscles and strong bodies. For kids to develop strong brains, would they need to:
a) move
b) solve problems that go from easy and get harder and harder, or
c) start early with flash cards, baby programs etc.
Would you have known the answer is a) kids need to move? On the surface, it seems that helping children learn to be calm, relaxed and still would be helpful but physical movement is the most powerful tool for encouraging the growth and development of brain connections. Both strong bodies and strong brains need movement. These senses of movement and the body’s position are developed as kids learn to sit, push, crawl, stand, walk and talk. The development of talking and thinking are interwoven in motor development.”
Even to learn to use language kids need the brain connections formed through moving. So it’s no wonder kids move so much even in sleep. It’s the fuel for their brains for all kinds of learning. Can you put on some music for your little one (using a cushion as a stage is optional) for some movin’, groovin’ and learnin’?