Art Music Drama

Art Music Drama

Snowflake Painting Resist

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Have you ever made snowflakes with tape, paint, and paper? It’s almost like magic to make invisible snowflakes appear and it’s very easy for little hands.

This project starts with a fairly thick piece of white paper. We used a sheet from the recycling. Tear off a strip of clear tape 2 to 3 inches long and tape it onto the page. (When we did this, I rubbed the tape on my jeans so that it didn’t stick too securely to the paper.) Keep track of where you put the tape because it’s hard to see! Use a second piece of tape and make an X, then another across the middle of the X to make a snowflake shape. Make more snowflakes in a few other places. It’s okay if some of the snowflakes overlap; they will still show up, even though you can’t see them yet.

Now comes the fun part, but cover the table, counter, or floor with newspaper or plastic. Using paint dabbers or brushes, kids cover the whole piece of paper with blue paint. The paper needs to be all blue, as much as possible. The paint doesn’t stick to the tape so the snowflakes start to appear. Once the paint is dry, carefully peel off the tape that you can now see. What’s underneath? Snowflakes!

This project gives kids a chance to strengthen the small muscles in the hands, fingers, and wrists. These muscles are still developing and need lots of exercise. Only one color of paint is needed for the sky which isn’t all that exciting, except for the snowflakes which start to show thru the color. It takes lots of effort and concentration to cover the whole page. As kids get distracted and then focus again, they can see what they need to do so this provides a built-in structure for attention. Painting is lots of fun and the snowflakes happen almost by magic. Well, the ones on the paper do. Maybe, could this make real ones appear?

Art Music Drama

10 New Year’s Resolutions with Young Kids #8: Music, Singing

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This new year’s resolution is so easy it can be almost be done with your eyes closed: include music and singing in your child’s day. Why would that be important? For a start, music and singing can have a positive impact on the brain. There is some new research in Germany showing that exposing a child to music during the early years enlarges parts of the brain. Music creates pathways and connections used for thinking skills and for math and language development, stretches memory and focuses attention.

importance of music for kidsSongs and music encourage careful listening and closer social connections. When singing with others, kids learn to watch and listen for clues so that what’s happening is in sync. Music and songs also affect our moods and influence our emotions. Music can be a strategy for coping with many situations. Just think of the story of These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things in the Sound of Music. When we’re feeling bad… or happy, or sad, or scared, or other feelings, too.

Kids do not sit still when they sing and hear music. They are active by dancing, jumping, hopping, bobbing, and moving all around. Adults often exercise to music because the sounds are stimulating. The rhythm of music can help with coordination and muscle control. Our hearts and breath move rhythmically so it is no wonder that we are attracted to rhythm.

new year's resolution music for kidsParents are sometimes reluctant to sing for and with their children but when parents sing, kids listen with their hearts. My dad sang with only 2 notes, low or even lower. I hear his voice now only in my memories and cherish them. Listen to all sorts of music and some of the ones that were your favorites as a child. Raffi just released a new CD and visits in different cities. Many parents write that they love introducing their kids to the songs they enjoyed and sang years earlier.

Music and songs are an enduring way to pass down traditions and culture. Music also connects countries. Let It Go from Frozen is in dozens and dozens of languages. Music and singing are so much fun perhaps this is the new year’s resolution that you and your child will enjoy the most?

Art Music Drama

Dinovember: Draw a Dinosaur for Preschoolers

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draw easy dinosaur stepsDid you know that drawing is a powerful activity for early learning and brain development? Not all kids enjoy drawing but dinosaurs are pretty appealing. Kids–and adults–do not have to be good at it!! It’s a form of PLAY.

When it comes to drawing, it’s very challenging for me. I really appreciate when the drawing is reduced to a set of easy steps. The website Draw with Rich had an amazing dinosaur. Here are the steps that we used, with apologies for the missing photo that shows the arms and the legs. You can see them in the colored picture.

Instead of paper, kids can try this on a chalkboard or an easel with felts or paint.

When kids are drawing and coloring, kids are exercising both muscles and brains. It’s easy to see how children are using the small muscles in their hands, fingers, wrists, and arms. It’s not so easy to see how brains are focusing and paying attention as well as coordinating movements using drawing tools. The brain is making pictures in the mind as the body is making pictures on paper. Making mind-pictures is called visualization and it is an important thinking skill.

drawing a dinosaur Just as we use words and language to communicate, we also use pictures to tell about experiences. Children can draw pictures to share with others. As kids both create and explain about their drawings, they will be using language too, such as the words for colors and shapes, and entire sentences. Adults have figured out that pictures hold meaning, but this is something that kids need to learn. Drawing also stimulates the imagination of children. The dinosaur and egg poster was done by a 5 year old boy and his mom together.

This is just some of the early learning and brain development potential when kids draw. As a reminder, we do not have to be good at drawing in order for it to be fun. Does your child enjoy this kind of play? Do you?