There’s nothing mysterious about coming up with new ideas. As a matter of fact, there are no new ideas, only new combinations of existing ideas. Being creative is all about changing around different variables in different ways. When children seem stuck for ideas, suggesting one or two new variables can start their brains zooming along […]
Category Archives: Music and Movement
Kangaroos! A Fun Name-Learning Song This is a great activity for the beginning of the year, when you and the children are learning each other’s names. This gives you a fun and very bouncy way to do it! Choose two children to be kangaroos. They’ll jump around in the middle of the circle while the […]
How often do you use classical music in activities with young children? I used to be a little intimidated by the prospect. Love classical music! Love young children! But just didn’t picture how they’d look together. However, like chocolate and peanut butter joining their yumminesses to create Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, children and classical music […]
A year or two ago I discovered the music of Bari Koral. I’m always so excited when I hear children’s music that I know my students will love! I couldn’t wait to bring Koral’s music to my music classes, and my students loved her songs right away. I’ve mentioned at least one of Koral’s songs […]
Fourth of July Musical Fun! Preschool children love the fun and excitement of the Fourth of July, and patriotic music is a big part of the festivities! Here are some ways to include patriotic music in your celebration in a developmentally appropriate way. He Called It Macaroni – I can’t take credit for this idea, […]
Why you should use ASL with young children More and more schools and early childhood learning centers are teaching some ASL (American Sign Language) to their (hearing) students. It seems counterintuitive, to say the least. Young children are still learning their own language – receptive, oral and written. Isn’t that enough? Why burden them with […]
Hoppin’ Fresh Bunny Songs! Hope you’ve been brushing up on your hopping skills! I’ve gathered some of my favorite bunny songs and activities – classics, new ones, and even a Latina coneja. Young children love to hop almost as much as bunnies do, so these activities are always guaranteed to be 24 carrot gold. (And […]
“The Owl Chicken Bunny Song” Young children really enjoy this funny activity, which gets them moving in some very silly ways! It’s from my most recent book, “Shake, Rattle and Roll: Rhythm Instruments and More for Active Learning” (Gryphon House, 2015). Children should be standing in a circle. Make circles around your eyes with your […]
I’m planning to use this in a class soon and thought I’d give a shout-out…there are a lot of versions of “La Bamba” out there, but Daria’s is my go-to version to use with young children. First, it’s the most authentically Latin-sounding, in rhythm and in instrumentation. Daria’s vocal performance is lovely and has an […]
Young children express a remarkable amount of creative thinking through physical improvisation. They explore their bodies’ possibilities for power, speed, range of motion, directionality, and emotional expressiveness on a daily basis to an extent that would exhaust a professional athlete or dancer. Games and activities that incorporate opportunities for movement improvisation are a very natural […]
Music (and Science) For Young Children 