With all the Christmas music playing everywhere, we may as well take advantage of it, have fun, and encourage some kindergarten readiness and learning.
New research is showing the profound impact that music is having on children, even before birth. Hearing music encourages the creation of pathways and connections needed to learn language. After birth, exposing a young child to music can enlarge parts of the brain and later down the road, music has a positive effect on school achievement. Singing together also helps children listen carefully and watch others for clues to coordinate the action.
Are there some simple songs that you can sing with your child? Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph have a fun story in the words. Jingle Bells has lots of repetition and pattern making it easy to learn. Patterning and predicting are higher level thinking skills that children practice when singing.
Songs have rhythm, and so do our lives. Brains are accustomed to rhythm from the beginning, from the constant beating of the mother’s heart to the rhythm of breathing as the baby takes it first breath. Kids can tap out the beat of some Christmas songs, or just drum away with pots and pans or a wooden spoon on a phone book.
There are gazillions of versions of seasonal songs, many appropriate for children. There are some resources, too, that parents and caregivers can access such as cd’s and youtube videos. If your family speaks a language other than English at home, it’s important to include songs in that language too. What are some favorites that you and your child can sing together?