developmental learning is...
sensory exploration
play
songs
moving
pretending
Mr Rodgers was a pioneer in early childhood learning And an inspiration to many Kindermusik educators. From his use of music and pretend play to his understanding of trauma and inclusion to his pioneering work in the virtual work (that is tv). He lead the way and we follow.
Below I have some interesting stuff...
first
X-ray comparison of hands in different stages of development
the reason this is important is because a child’s body & brain especially under 3 has a lot of development to do!! it matters what skills are taught and when- it’s a process. So although we explore pianos and other adult instruments we do not teach traditional sit for a half hour classes to children under 5 (actually 8 is a better time to start). Instead we move our whole bodies around the room, move our hands & fingers in all kinds of ways, pretend, learn impulse control, and yes explore the pianos but also a bunch of other instruments too.
And just because an instrument is designed for smaller hands doesn’t mean you can’t express your skills.
Check out this young man‘s mad skills but on a developmentally appropriate ukulele instrument.
Again a couple of reminders of what Kindermusik’s developmental approach can do...
If you want them to do it... do it with them because imitation is the highest form of flattery- and it’s one of the ways children (especially babies) learn.
Rituals and routines help provide stability, predictability, make connections, and practice skills
social skills are learned through doing it’s like on the job training
Music is perhaps the original language of the brain. And it helps with all language development from sounds to vocabulary to grammar to expression.
Music has a long history of helping children learn to practice, handle direction, and take pride in their accomplishments.
The arts also help with emotional awareness, empathy, and expression.
Our group and relationship based instruction teach the give & take of so much of our human experience.
We link music with another basic tool of the human body... movement! Movement of the smallest and the largest parts of the body and their link to the brain.
And when all those little muscles and senses and brain connections come together we create. We create song, dance, sport, story, invention, ideas.