This study from 2009 indicates that improvisational activities, such as those included In my books and articles, can help children develop creative thinking in music: An experimental study of the effects of improvisation on the development of children’s creative thinking in music Koutsoupidou, T., & Hargreaves, D. J. (2009). An experimental study of the effects of […]
Tag Archives: young children
Here Comes a Bear by The Wiggles available on iTunes So many children’s stories are about bears, and this song is a nice go-along with a bear story. It’s a movement song which is very easy for even little ones to perform, and it has a nice, catchy tune. Children pretend to be a bear, […]
I like to read picture books with wolves in them because I think wolves get a bad rap in general. Most young children are very afraid of wolves. Not that I think children should go out and pet a wild wolf, but I like them to learn that among themselves, wolves are loving, family-oriented creatures. […]
“Put Your Hands Up In The Air” by Hap Palmer available on iTunes So many children’s recordings, especially those meant for movement, are overly complicated, or just plain go too fast for young children. Instead of a fun experience, the children just feel confused or frustrated. That’s why “Put Your Hands in the Air” is one of my favorites, particularly […]
We’re Going on a Picnic! by Pat Hutchins In this very cute, silly story, Chicken, Duck, and Goose are going on a picnic, but they can’t agree on a perfect spot for it. As they walk along searching forthat elusive “just right” location, they sing “We’re going on a picnic, we’re going on a picnic” (I […]
I didn’t have any Fourth of July stories so I’m going with George Washington – hey, he’s patriotic, right? On Presidents’ Day I like to ask my older students (the fours and fives) if they know who George Washington was. The answers are always entertaining. Me: Does anyone know who […]
This article of mine appears in the July issue of Teachers Net Gazette. What are your summer resolutions? A Teacher’s Summer Resolutions By Abigail Flesch Connors I know! Summer isn’t resolution time! Summer is for chilling out and kicking back, not for getting all serious and resolution-y! But I have to confess, I’m a natural-born resolution-maker, […]
Let us take our children seriously! Everything else follows from this… only the best is good enough for a child. – Zoltan Kodaly Zoltan Kodaly, the Hungarian composer and music […]
“Baila Baila” by Isa available on iTunes I love the Venezuelan singer Isa. Her style is fresh and fun. This is, of course, a song for dancing – “baila” means dance in Spanish. Most of the words are too difficult for children to sing along with, but every verse has a slow part that features parts of the body, such as “rodillas” […]
The Baby Beebee Bird by Diane Redfield Massey This is one of my students’ all-time favorites! The little beebee bird, new to the zoo, wakes everyone up with his silly song – “Bee-bee, bobby-bobby.” I make up my own tune for this, but any tune would work, as long as it’s high-pitched and annoying! Children will be singing the bird’s […]
Music (and Science) For Young Children 