Move to Music!

In today’s mechanized society, children’s lives are much more sedentary than those of their parents and grandparents. Several factors contribute to the decrease in children’s physical activities, such as hurried adult schedules, societal changes including development of technology that makes daily living less physical. Children rarely experience enough outdoor play and spend a great deal of time playing indoors with computer games or watching television. For many children, preschool is the main environment for being active which makes preschool the primary place for children to participate in physical activities better yet when there is music and movement as young children enjoy moving around when they hear music.

Music is magical!

Sakalya Prep has made music and movement as a daily component of learning. Children learn by doing, so Sakalya teachers institute ways for children to experience all content areas in the curriculum in a physical way. Not only does this integration aid children’s learning, but it also promotes physical fitness and active living. In Sakalya Prep, we have observed that young children are likely to participate at different levels in music and movement activities. Some children may just listen to music, some may just observe others’ movements, and others may join in the activity. Children’s early experiences with movement activities influence their later knowledge, concept development, skills, and attitude, so selecting appropriate teaching strategies is critical in our preschool atmosphere. It is also seen that, when teachers offer intriguing activities to children daily, reluctant children are likely to join in over time.

Children should not be deprived of these activities, if the school reopening gets delayed due to prevailing situation. Sakalya Prep is taking out second in its series to explain to parents why and how the little ones should enjoy music & movement and joyful & fun activities for their healthy development.

What moves you?

Music and movement are fundamental aspects of children’s play, so as they hear music, children have opportunities to enjoy moving, listening, and singing. Young children benefit by experiencing music through their senses of hearing and feeling, as well as by experimenting with their vocalizations. Children not only hear music, but also experience emotional reactions to it, and this motivates movement. To help children become active, moving to music can play a big part in children’s everyday life.

Parents may have to create an environment where children are free to jump, tiptoe, march and engage in many other types of movement with music. They cherish opportunities for creativity and movement, especially physical activities without constraints. The most compelling music and movement activities are enjoyable and voluntary so that all children can appreciate the joy and beauty of the experience for its own sake.

At home, choose developmentally appropriate songs and observe child’s reactions to music. Music is joyful and predictable, as well as nonjudgmental and non competitive. Rest assured that it is not musical talent that parents need to worry about, but rather the importance of embedding children’s music experiences at home. Music naturally enhances the home environment by providing energy, life, joy, and playfulness.

Parents can teach their child their favourite songs, play traditional instruments, or dance steps from their heritage. Apart from that, active songs and games that are usually popular like Hokey Pokey, Pop Goes the Weasel, If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands, Mulberry Bush, Lost My Handkerchief, Musical Chairs, Duck Duck Goose, Happy School Song, I Caught a Fish, Mama Kangaroo, Mr. Turkey, Ten Little Frogs, Six Little Ducks, Two Little Blackbirds etc can be included. Parents can encourage children’s imagination and fantasy through the use of music and movement activities. Parents can be creative when it comes to making music! Use simple instruments to promote young children’s participation in music and movement. Involve children in making their own shakers. Kitchen gadgets, such as wooden spoons, make good drum or rhythm sticks. Recycled pan lids are perfect cymbals. So what are you waiting for, lets move to music!

About the author: Lt Col Bincy K Thomas (Retd) is the Co-founder and Director of Sakalya Wisdom Foundation, an organisation committed to design and offer meaningful educational services and activities. She is the Director of Sakalya Prep, The Holistic Preschool, Whitefield Bangalore. She is the Trainer and Pedagogy Expert in Sakalya Centre for Professional Development, training Centre for Teachers Professional Development, School Leaders Development Programs and Parenting Programs. She is researching into creating a dynamic holistic early childhood pedagogy. Presently She is pursuing Certificate in Early Education Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education, USA. Other areas of her interests are world mythologies, philosophy, social, emotional and spiritual development, leadership, gardening etc.