Can YOU stick your toe to your nose? |
10 Carrot Music:
“Sing Sticky Bubble Gum Again Please, Miss Carole!”
Why do kids like a particular song, and could it be good
for them, too? Let’s talk about what makes a song developmentally appropriate in Early
Childhood. Is it the catchy
tune?
Is it the driving rock beat?
Is it the silly words?
It is, but it can be so much more! In over 20 years of teaching young children, I’ve come up with my own definition of DEVELOPMENTALLY
APPROPRIATE
MUSIC:
·
It uses skills the child has mastered.
·
It allows a child to practice skills they need to acquire or
refine.
·
It extends physical, emotional and/or intellectual vocabulary.
·
It uses concepts the child has experience with or introduces new
ones.
·
It taps into the child’s imagination and sense of adventure.
·
It encourages the child to be expressive – emotionally,
physically and vocally.
·
It encourages appropriate social interaction and spatial
awareness.
Let's DANCE! |
YES – music
works hard, yet it
is so easy and natural for a child to be musical! ALL children benefit from daily exposure to
music. They don’t have to be singing
their letters, though what better way to learn the alphabet. They don’t have to do conjugate verbs to the “Twinkle
Twinkle” tune. Yet as children sing and
move with music, they increase cognitive skills, practice early literacy skills
such as rhyme, pattern, sequence, alliteration and vocabulary. Physically they are building and stretching
their bodies with each dance, gaining strength, balance and equilibrium.
Active participation in music also
promotes self-control and self-sufficiency.
... AND THEY JUST THINK THEY’RE HAVING
FUN!!!
So, let’s go
out there and sing up a storm, kick up our heels and fire up our brains! Have a “carrot” on me – it’s good for you and the children you love!
THE WIGGLE SONG – hear it as The Song of the Month at Macaroni Soup!
OR – put these lyrics to “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and
start singing right now!
My hands are starting to wiggle
My hands are starting to wiggle
My hands are starting to wiggle
Around and around and around.
(keep singing – wiggle your feet,
hips, head and then let loose with “all of me is a-wiggle!” Turn around with your hands in the air each time you sing "around and around and around!)
Yours for a Song!
"Miss Carole"
Carole, I love the wiggle song! I HAVE to teach it to my nephew! He will LOVE it too! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou have such fun songs, Carole ... LOVE them! I pinned your post to the collaborative Get Kids Moving board at http://pinterest.com/lnmontessori/get-kids-moving/. Deb @ LivingMontessoriNow.com
ReplyDeleteWOAH! I KNOW these kids!! Carol came to our center!! Can't believe I found this post on pinterest...
ReplyDeleteJamie
For Love of Cupcakes
I had a great day at your center, Jamie! And you can tell from the looks on their faces, the kids had a fun time, too! Thanks!
DeleteThanks, Deb and Carie! And a BIG thanks for passing it on!
ReplyDeleteI just spent 2 days singing and dancing with teachers in Massachusetts - YOW, so rewarding!