If you have a degree in early childhood education, you’ve probably spent hours and hours studying theories galore of child development. Piaget, Freud, Erikson, Dewey, Gesell, Montessori, Vygotsky and on and on and on. And hey, I love those guys (well… some more than others). They each have something to teach us about how young children […]
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 […]
I’ve talked about ways in which we as teachers can support children’s creative thinking, but it’s also important to help our students learn to support each other’s creativity. Children learn by watching us, of course – and they watch how we listen and show interest when new ideas are shared. But there are more ways […]
Music and science are related in all kinds of ways, but there’s a certain musical instrument that always brings out young children’s scientific inquiry. Of course, young children are curious about everything. And one kind of thing especially intrigues them – wondering what’s inside something. Particularly when they can hear that something making a sound […]
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 toddler hearing an unfamiliar sound: Stops everything. Looks around for the source of the sound. Points excitedly to the source of the sound when she finds it. Asks the nearest adult, “What dat? What dat?” Continues asking until the adult answers: “A truck.” “The microwave beeping.” “A flute.” “My stomach growling.” Adult hearing an […]
It’s so great that I love to make quiches and I’m too lazy to make my own crusts. Because then I have to buy frozen pie crusts – which come with FREE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS!!!! If you’ve never played the aluminum pie plate as a musical instrument, there are a couple things you should know: […]
I’m constantly tapping rhythms on stuff – cookie sheets, the dryer, cardboard boxes, anything that looks like it might make an interesting sound. That’s how I found myself starting, for the tenth time so far this summer, to sort through some stuff in the garage, picking up this large pot lid and tapping on it. […]
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 […]
Yes, this book is wonderful for helping young children develop critical thinking skills, but the BEST thing about it is that it’s a very funny story and children love it. “Where’s My Mom?” sounds like the title of a very sad book about a lost and anxious little one. I don’t like those kinds of […]
Music (and Science) For Young Children 