We at Rhythm N Rhyme know that music is not only fun for young children but a great tool for learning and overall development. With this program our aim is to promote coordination, balance, rhythm and self-esteem through music and learning.
Our early childhood music curriculum has decades of research behind it, in both music education and child development. And because we recognize that children learn through play, we make everything we do in class engaging and fun.
We also know that young children learn best from the powerful role models in their lives. That's where the grownups come in! Our family classes show parents, teachers, and caregivers how to help their children become confident by having fun together.
Music and play together brings families of all kinds together in a warm, supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable singing, dancing, and just having fun. Creating lasting family and community bonds through music is a huge part of our programs.
Singing and dancing with children is so much fun, it's easy to overlook how much they're learning in the process. Gaining basic music skills is one of the most obvious benefits of our early childhood music program, but there are other, less obvious benefits of music for children, too. It turns out that learning music also supports social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.
An action-song provides a child the opportunity to integrate rhythm, body percussion and vocalization..
We know that repetition of music and rhymes in a beat with a predictable patter stimulates the eagerness to learn.
All kids learn & commuicate differently. Some learn best through hearing, while others are more visual learners. Baby & Toddler sign language helps fill vocabulary gaps.
Children are as unique as snowflakes, each having their own distinct personality. There are certain developmental milestones most children reach within a specific time frame. The age when your child smiles at you, says their first word, starts to crawl and masters other tasks can give you insights into how well they are achieving these important developmental milestones.
Fine motor skills generally refer to the small movements of the hands, wrists, fingers, feet, toes, lips, and tongue. Fine motor skills develop as your child’s whole body gains mobility, stability, cognitive, and emotional/social development.
When we think of fine motor skills those that most often come to mind include:
However, there are several foundations before your child will acquire those skills. Those building blocks include stability, bilateral coordination, and sensation.
is the ability to keep one part of the body still while another part moves.
is the efficient use of both hands during activities. One hand will manipulate while the other is the ‘helping hand.
is knowing where your hands, arms, and fingers are, and how they are moving. Once the building blocks are established, your child will use small, accurate, and precise movements to open containers, pick up tiny objects, stack blocks, and many other skills.
Activities at Rhythm N Rhyme are geared to typically help our Bugs attain and master fine motor skills.
We all know gross motor movement is important for development, but why is that?
When kids move to music, they are getting so much more than just exercise. They are also developing their coordination, balance, concentration and cognitive abilities.
By practicing coordinated movement to music, they will develop parts of the brain that will help them to speak, read, write and play instruments. But the best part is that these activities also bring such a great deal of enjoyment!
Developing the upper body can be done is also done with basic gymnastic skills which we incorporate in music class at Rhythm n Rhyme. Our Bunnies learn forward rolls, Monkey jumps, Donkey kicks that help develop upper body strength.
Music activities and instrument play helps our Crawlers, Bugs and Bunnies develop a steady sense of rhythm and beat and enhance listening skills. Watching a video on the phone is one way communication which is easily misinterpreted as stimulated learning. One way communication leads to non verbal communication. Stiimulate your child with action songs and sing along sessions where they too need to participate.
Music and rhythm can help children :
Music is a great communication tool.
Often we as adults come across instances where a complete stranger becomes an acquaintance just with the fact that we both enjoyed the same song played at a restaurant. Kids too find it much easier to make friends and feel excepted when a similar song or rhyme is played that is known to both.
Studies have proven that children tell others whether they are happy, sad, lonely, excited, or scared just by singing a song or moving their body.
Music also is important because it helps children learn to cooperate, follow directions, and develop social relationships. It helps them learn how to get along and communicate with other people who live in their society.
Everyone has had moments in their lives when they could not communicate their needs in a way others could understand. The result is a level of frustration beyond compare. Babies are the same as adults in this regard.
Wanting something and being unable to explain what exactly is wanted frequently results in loud crying, utter frustration, and/or tantrums.
So the first benefit of using Baby Sign Language is, that it gives your baby the ability to express his or her important needs and thoughts. A common line we parents use is “say thankyou”. We at music class make sure your little one and you as the parent know the sign for thankyou. We use it very often at class ensuring your child gets practice of the same.
Toddlers can speak a few words, but still many a times when they are unable to express themselves to their satisfaction.
Many of the infamous “terrible two’s” tantrums are a result of complete and total frustration over the inability to express emotions or feelings.
Toddlers can learn Toddler Sign Language, which makes communication easier and more effective. A child throwing a tantrum is miserable. Often we as parents feel overwhelmed at trying to cope with the emotional rage. At this time the sign for STOP would work best that saying “NO”! “NO”!