Are you ready to introduce your child to music? Here are four tips to get you started.
1. Between the ages of 1 and 3, kids respond best to music when they actively experience it. Listening to music passively like in the car is fine, but it is best to make opportunities to get your child swaying, marching, clapping, and moving to the beat.
2. Share songs that go along with simple hand motions or dance moves, like The “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” “Head and Shoulders”, “If You’re Happy and You know It (Clap Your Hands), “The Wheels on the Bus,” or the “Hokey Pokey.” For younger kids, a parent’s lap is a great place to put music and movement together. Have your child face you and be sure to smile as you bounce your knees to chants like “This is the Way the Ladies Ride” or “Open Shut Them.”
3. As for adding instruments, keeping it simple is key. Very young toddlers will enjoy instruments they can shake such as bells, rattles, shakers, tambourines, or rain sticks. As your child gets older and a little more coordinated you can try to incorporate rhythm instruments that can be banged, like drums, cymbals, or xylophones.
4. Use music to help your child make transitions through the day such as when:
- Picking up toys (“clean up, clean up…everybody everywhere” or “bye bye instruments…”)
- Brushing teeth (“brushing, brushing, brushing teeth,” sung to the tune of “London Bridge Is Falling Down”)
- Taking a bath (“Now it’s bath time, now it’s bath time, yes, it is” sung to the tune of “Are You Sleeping”)
Kids’ music can be a bit cheesy and parents may tire of it quickly but there’s no reason why you can’t share your own favorite music with your kids. A toddler who loves Beethoven, The Bee-Gees or Bob Marley? Why not? When you try new music, ask if your child likes it and discuss your opinion as well.
Though most antsy toddlers aren’t usually ready for a night at the symphony, there are live performances suitable for kids. Museums, libraries, and local colleges often host child-friendly events. The Monterey Symphony offers free youth concerts at Sunset Center, the next one is October 16. Outdoor concerts such as The Monterey County Fair (Aug 31-Sept 4), Festa Italia (Sept 8-10) or the Rods on the Wharf (October 28) where kids can run around, sing, dance etc. are also a good bet. My favorite venue is coming up this month, The Monterey Jazz Festival. Sunday, September the 17th is Family Day filled with fun activities such as Percussion Play shop, Instrument Petting Zoo and plenty of jazzy performances all day long!
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