Activities for Kids Ages 2 to 4: Puddle Jumping

Activities for Kids (Ages 2-4): Puddle Jumping

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Kindermusik International

One of those rainy days? We’re going to start giving away some of our best Kindermusik activities for you to do at home with your children in the comfort of your own home! Keep an eye out for activities for babies, toddlers, and young kids!

Puddle Jumping:

Scatter several hula hoops on the ground or floor. One person is the “drummer leader”—drumming on a box, trash can, bucket, or hand drum. As long as the drummer is just playing a beat, the other players walk between and around the hoops. On a loud bang, everyone find a hula hoop and quickly jumps in it. Take turns being the drummer leader. Try running, leaping, skipping, hopping, twirling and other ways to move between and around the hoops. This activity combines sound, movement, cues, and social interaction, helping preschoolers develop their attention skills.

Keep an eye out for more Rainy Day Activities for Kids, Babies, & Toddlers!

Activities for Kids Ages 2 to 4: Puddle Jumping | Minds on Music

Best Ways to Get Your Baby to Sleep

One of the Best Ways to Get Your Baby to Sleep

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Kindermusik International

Photo Credit: all-free-download.com

To re-phrase an old saying,“When baby ain’t sleepin’, ain’t nobody sleepin’!” Desperate parents will go to any and all lengths to get their baby to sleep. We’d like to suggest that one of the best ways to get your baby to sleep is to sing – a lullaby, that is. And no, your voice doesn’t have to be stage-perfect, because to your baby, your voice is the most beautiful sound there is. Besides that, who else is going to hear you singing softly at 2 a.m.?!

Lullabies for Babies

As your baby learns to fall asleep on his own, you might choose to let him fall asleep to some gentle lullaby recordings. Here are a few of our favorite suggestions:

You Are My Sunshine by Kindermusik International – available at Amazon orplay.Kindermusik.com

Violin Lullabies, a new release by violinist Rachel Barton Pine

Flying Dreams, a harp and flute recording by Emily Mitchell and James Galway

Create a Playlist

If you’re a Kindermusik family, you know that your Kindermusik music always includes some gentle listening music as well as lullabies. You might choose to create a playlist of all of your favorite Kindermusik lullabies and rocking songs so that it’s ready at the touch of a button – in the car, before a nap… or when you’re too tired to remember the words in the middle of the night!

Original Post: Best Ways to Get Your Baby to Sleep | Minds on Music

Little Treblemakers proudly offers Kindermusik for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids. Schedule your Free Preview Class today!Call/Text: 818-953-4954 Email: Liltreblemakers@aol.com

Introducing Kindermusik@Home!

Parenting just got easier - in class and at home!



Through the newest research and technology, Kindermusik makes sure parents receive the educational tools they need to tap into the power of music to help make parenting easier and support their role as a child's first and most important teacher. That's why enrollment in every Kindermusik class includes music and age-appropriate activities for families to use together at home where a child learns best.


Now, with Kindermusik@Home you can easily access your favorite Kindermusik songs, activities, books and lyrics-as well as recipes, learning games for kids, crafts, and more in a green-friendly digital format any time from your smart phone, iPad, tablet, laptop, or computer.

Little Treblemakers proudly offers Kindermusik for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids. Schedule your Free Preview Class today!Call/Text: 818-953-4954 Email: Liltreblemakers@aol.com

Countdown to Summer Kindermusik!

A delightful way to grow!
Hi Tricia!  Summer has officially arrived and the hot weather is right on time! Looking for enriching indoor activities to hide from the Sun and heat?  Join us for Summer Kindermusik classes beginning Friday July 12! Our first Summer theme explores all the joys of Beach Days, but in the comfort of an air conditioned studio! And just think of all the songs and activities you'll have to bring to the beach or pool when you're not in class! Make sure to check out our new class times and our GREAT SUMMER SPECIALS! I look forward to making music with you and your child soon! If you have any questions or would like to schedule a Free Preview Class please Call/Text 818-953-4954 or EMAIL  Click here to REGISTER NOW Have a Delightful Music Filled Day! Patti James B.A., M.A. Licensed Kindermusik Educator Call/Text: 818-953-4954  to keep up with our latest news! SUMMER CLASS SCHEDULE AND PRICING    REGISTER BY Midnight THURSDAY JULY 4 for $5 off your first month! SUMMER SPECIALS now through Labor Day: All Summer classes are held at our Burbank/Toluca Lake Studio and include Kindermusik@Home digital materials 1 Class per week $75 per month 2 Classes per week $110 per month 3 Classes per week $125 per month with the above multiple class offers you must choose specific class times or UNLIMITED CLASSES $150 per month to take advantage of special multiple class pricing, please contact Patti CALL/TEXT: 818-953-4954 or EMAIL REGISTER NOW!  Infants Newborn to 12 months  Tuesday 4:30 Saturday 12:30  Babies 6 mos-2 years Tuesday 11:30 Friday 11:30 Saturday 11:30  MULTI AGE/FAMILY CLASS Birth-5 years Tuesday 9:30, 10:30 & 6:00 pm  Friday 9:30 & 10:30 Saturday 9:30 & 10:30 Class schedule subject to change depending enrollment.  Private Violin & Viola Lessons Children 4+ and Adults.  Suzuki Method and Traditional. Scheduled individually and priced according to lesson length.  No free preview for Violin lessons. Introducing Kindermusik@Home!  Parenting just got easier - in class and at home!   Through the newest research and technology, Kindermusik makes sure parents receive the educational tools they need to tap into the power of music to help make parenting easier and support their role as a child's first and most important teacher. That's why enrollment in every Kindermusik class includes music and age-appropriate activities for families to use together at home where a child learns best. Now, with Kindermusik@Home you can easily access your favorite Kindermusik songs, activities, books and lyrics-as well as recipes, learning games for kids, crafts, and more in a green-friendly digital format any time from your smart phone, iPad, tablet, laptop, or computer. Introducing Kindermusik@Home: Songs, Stories, & More Learning Activities for Children! Kindermusik@Home educational activities for children include: Music downloads: songs, rhymes, stories and sounds from class Literature book in e-book format Activity buttons lead to a variety of different activity types such as: dance and movement activities fingerplay demonstrations together-in-the-kitchen activities music time focused listening games video field trips find-it/count-it style activities ideas for pretend or imaginative play and more! The Why It's Good for Your Child area provides parents with the educational insight behind the activities. Download Center provides Printable Activity Pages and, Printable Lyrics Pagesfor all of the songs. Tell me more! I think you will find Kindermusik@Home easy for you. Good for your little one. Fun for all! Ask me how you can access the benefits of Kindermusik@Home today.  Kindermusik works! Check out the research! Visit the Benefits of Kindermusikpage for information on how Kindermusik helps your child learn, grow, and develop.

Countdown to Summer Kindermusik!

Little Treblemakers proudly offers Kindermusik for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids. Schedule your Free Preview Class today!Call/Text: 818-953-4954 Email: Liltreblemakers@aol.com

Music, creativity, and English Language Learners | Minds on Music

Children naturally engage in creative activities: from storytelling to singing to dancing to turning a shoebox into a submarine, doll bed, or even another planet. An often-quoted IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the number one “leadership competency” of the future. Albert Einstein also understood the importance of creativity when he said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” So, how do we foster creativity in young children that sustains through adulthood?

Music and teaching English to children supports creativity

Source: Flickr.com

Einstein often used music as a creative way to solve complex problems. He believed, “The greatest scientists are artists as well.” Playing an instrument, singing with others, and dancing to music all support a child’s creative process and encourages individual expression and exploratory behavior. Learning a second (or third!) language can also foster creativity. In fact, research indicates that bilinguals tend to be more creative thinkers and perform better in problem-solving skills than those who speak only one language.

An article published in the Early Childhood Education Journal, “Using Music to Support the Literacy Development of Young English Language Learners,” reviews current research to highlight some of the reasons why music can effectively be used when teaching English to children.

8 reasons to use music with ELL students

1. A child’s initial introduction to patterned text often occurs first in songs, chants, and rhymes, which can lead to greater understanding of print concepts.
2. Songs present opportunities for developing automaticity in the language process. The repetitive nature of many children’s songs helps ELL students learn the language as they hear words and phrases repeated.
3. Music can be integrated throughout the day in the classroom and at home to develop and to extend vocabulary and comprehension skills.
4. Music can improve listening and oral language skill development, improve attention and memory, and enhance abstract thinking.
5. Music enriches ELL students’ creativity and cultural awareness.
6. Songs can be used to practice and reinforce consonant sounds.
7. Songs can teach a variety of language skills, such as sentence patterns, vocabulary, pronunciation, rhythm, and parts of speech.
8. Music is a way for children to experience rich language in a fun way.

English Language Learners curriculum uses music

Created by Kindermusik International, ABC English & Me uses music and movement to teach English to speakers of other languages that meets the TESOL curriculum standards for Pre-K. This beginners program for English Language Learners combines our extensive experience in early childhood education with the latest research on learning a foreign language.

Music, creativity, and English Language Learners | Minds on Music

Little Treblemakers proudly offers Kindermusik for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids. Schedule your Free Preview Class today!Call/Text: 818-953-4954 Email: Liltreblemakers@aol.com

Active Listening

What is it?

Babies come into the world with brains hard-wired for listening. A fetus in the third trimester can already hear its mother’s heartbeat and other environmental sounds, including music.

During the first year of life, infants develop their listening skills further, responding increasingly to music, language, and tone.

Listening is a major avenue for learning: hearing and recognizing the voices of different familiar people; recognizing the connection of certain sounds (e.g., lullabies vs. active songs) to certain activities (sleep vs. play); or simply knowing that a parent’s voice or footsteps signal that food, a dry diaper, or comfort is coming.

Listening seems like such a simple thing, hardly something that takes training—but how many 

times have you thought I know he can hear me, but he’s just not listening! In cases like these, the word listening (in contrast to hearing) is really being used to mean paying attention, focusing, understanding, or “getting it”. This kind of listening, called active listening, is a skill that does, in fact, take practice and even instruction.

But here’s the rub—it’s also a skill that is essential to school success. The way most schools are set up, up to 75% of the time your child will spend in a classroom will be spent learning through listening!

Here’s where music comes in. Researchers believe that music instruction helps children build active listening skills.

By “tuning in” to music and other specific sounds carefully, one at a time, and with full attention, children hone their listening skills. Through songs and chants, children develop an ear for the patterns of sounds in words, phrases, and sentences. And as children listen to and sing words set to music, they become familiar with other sounds, rhymes, rhythms, and patterns in language. 

How It Works in Class

• Listen. You and your toddler stop, focus, and listen to the sound, for example, of a baby elephant. 
• Connect. Your child hears the teacher’s directions, hears your voice repeating the words, and learns to focus on the sounds entering his or her ears and connect them to the concepts you describe: Listen to the sound of a baby elephant.
• Imitate. You and your child will use vocal play to playfully repeat the sounds you hear. 
• Discuss. Together, the class may discuss what they heard, what it sounded like, and how 
• the sounds were different. 

What You Can Do at Home

• Sounds Around the Home. Listen actively to the sounds around your home: a clock ticking, the creaks of floorboards, a garbage truck outside…. Imitate and discuss the sounds.
• Be a Good Listener. Model active listening by being very attentive to what your child says, whether words, short sentences, or just sounds.
• Stop the Music. Use the songs on your Kindermusik CDs for a simple version of musical chairs that teaches careful listening. Listen for the music to stop, then freeze!

*Source: Kindermusic Music and Reading Full Research Booklet

Ages 18 months to 3 years old

Little Treblemakers proudly offers Kindermusik for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids. Schedule your Free Preview Class today!Call/Text: 818-953-4954 Email: Liltreblemakers@aol.com

Explore the Benefits of Music for Children

Musical Learning Supports Child Development

All over the world, parents bond with their babies through musical sounds and rhythmic movement. 

They rock and swing their children, put them to sleep with lullabies, make them laugh with nursery 

rhymes. Parents know instinctively what scientists have now proven: young children thrive on music. 

It’s one of the best vehicles for learning in early childhood development.

Kindermusik takes musical learning to the next level; our curriculum is proven to improve child 

brain development. And, did we mention it's fun for kids and parents alike?!

 

Music matters

Psychologists, neuroscientists, and experts in early childhood development have demonstrated that 

music does more for children than bring them joy; it helps their brain cells make the connections 

needed for virtually every kind of intelligence. Kindermusik's curriculum is built on this research.

When young children are consistently engaged by music in an age-appropriate, 

socially accepting environment, they benefit at many levels:

*Early Literacy. They gain the phonological processing, spoken language, and comprehension skills 
that are the foundation of reading.

*Quantitative. They build the spatial-temporal and reasoning skills required for math, science, 
and engineering.

*Social-Emotional. They develop social and emotional skills that are essential for school readiness—
like the ability to regulate their responses and relate to others in complex ways.

*Physical. By moving and dancing to music and playing simple instruments, children improve their 
gross and fine motor skills.

*Creative. Activities that encourage freedom within a fun and friendly structure spark children's 
creativity and provide inspiration.

And of course, they develop a lifelong love of music.

Little Treblemakers proudly offers Kindermusik for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids. Schedule your Free Preview Class today!Call/Text: 818-953-4954 

Email: Liltreblemakers@aol.com

How Repetition Strengthens the Brain

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Kindermusik International

“Repetition continues to be important in the development of language and movement, as it is repeated experiences that reinforce the pathways of the brain.  By two years of age, a toddler’s cerebral cortex contains well over a hundred trillion synapses, which is actually some fifty percent more synapses than she will keep as an adult.  While new synapses form rapidly during this time frame, a ‘pruning’ process is also taking place.  This process strengthens frequently used pathways, while deleting those that are not used.  As pruning continues, it will allow your child to process thoughts and actions more quickly and efficiently” (zerotothree.org. 1998-2001)

Tips for parents:

You can incorporate more repetition in your child’s life in some fairly simple ways.  One way is to set aside time each day for reading his or her favorite books together.  You’ll probably read his favorites repeatedly!  Another way to foster more repetition is to make full use of your Kindermusik home materials, enjoying the music and activities together regularly.

How Repetition Strengthens the Brain | Minds on Music

Little Treblemakers proudly offers Kindermusik for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids. Schedule your Free Preview Class today!Call/Text: 818-953-4954 
Email: Liltreblemakers@aol.com

Spatial Skills Linked to Math Learning from Education Week

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Kindermusik International

Learning how to hold a mallet!

This morning, Education Week published an article affirming spatial skills as a key to math learning. Movement and “task” activities (cutting paper shapes, building blocks, coloring in lines, clapping, stomping, singing) not only improve a child’s discipline ability to write neatly, they improve his or her capacity for abstract reasoning. The article quotes Claire E. Cameron, research scientist at the University of Virginia’s Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning, on this point:

“We think of early-childhood classrooms as being really high in executive-function demands, but what children are being asked to exercise [executive function] on end up being visual-motor and fine-motor tasks.”

Here’s how it works. As you listen to music or make music, certain neuronsin the cortex ofyour brain start firing. The pathways created are the same pathwaysthat are used when you complete complex spatial reasoning tasks. The more of these pathways that are forged and the more they are in use, the stronger the connections become. Strong connections lead to easier access, which translatesinto better skills.

Although listening to music does give the neural network a workout, the gains in spatial reasoning skills have been shown to be very short-term—15 minutes or less. This “Mozart effect” is much longer-lasting when you engage in making music, however. Studies are showing that the attendant spatial reasoning gains can extend over months or even years (Rauscher et al, 1997; Gardiner, 2000; Hetland, 2000b). Studies focused on music for young children are also suggesting that math gains increase according to the number of years that students engage in active music learning (Gardiner, 2000), with some indication that the younger children are when they begin music instruction, the greater the gains will be.

Read more from Kindermusik about the benefits of music and math here, and comment below with questions or feedback!

Spatial Skills Linked to Math Learning from Education Week | Minds on Music

Get Your Kids to Listen!

Becoming a Good Listener

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Kindermusik International

Focusing on one sense at a time helps children strengthen their perception.  Focusing on sound, for example, sharpens listening skills.  Experts say that about two-thirds of everything learned is learned through listening.  When children are given an opportunity to practice their listening skills, they also enhance their abilities to focus and pay attention, allowing them to understand and interpret more of what they hear.

Ideas for parents:

As you take a walk outdoors with your child, encourage your child to listen, identify, imitate, and discuss the different sounds you hear.  Listen for the sound of birds, neighbors chatting, lawn mowers, vehicles, and more.  You’ll have a lot of fun playing the “Listening Game,” and your child’s listening skills will be sharpened too!

Try a Free Kindermusik Class!

We engage kids in fun activities every week in Kindermusik music classes for kids – and focus on developing listening skills, cognitive skills, musical skills and more. Learning through music and movement is fun and effective, come check it out.

- Contributed by Theresa Case, whose Greenville, SC program, Kindermusik at Piano Central Studios, is proudly among the top 1% of Kindermusik programs worldwide.

Get Your Kids to Listen! | Minds on Music

What’s the Rhythm of Spring? | Minds on Music

What’s the Rhythm of Spring?

Posted by Kindermusik International

Photo Credit: New York Botanical Garden

Monday mornings are best begun with a poem. We think this E.E. Cummings  poem, “in Just-” celebrates spring, children, and music in a refreshingly dissonant way. What do you think?

in Just–E.E. Cummings

in Just-
spring          when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame balloonman

whistles          far          and wee

and eddieandbill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it’s
spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer
old balloonman whistles
far          and             wee
and bettyandisbel come dancing

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it’s
spring
and

the
goat-footed

balloonMan          whistles
far
and
wee

Rhythm is central to this poem. It is typographical – the disjointed spacing, repetition of verses, and vertical arrangement makes movement tangible: moving children, wind, and the whistle thread the poem together in evolving combinations. It is also lyrical – the refrain, the balloonMan’s whistle “far and wee,” is contrasted with the huffing breaths of young children running, slurring names “eddieandbill” and “bettyandisabel” together. The whistle has the effect of an ice cream truck’s song, calling children to chase after it. To the adult (the reader?), the whistle is the belittled sound of a, “lame,” “little,” “goat footed” man.  But to the children, the whistle is a mysterious a-harmonic tune. It is a mysterious sound. It implores them to break away from their games and explore an even more magical realm of the imagination.

What does this poem mean to you? Share your thoughts below, or share another poem that reminds you of spring, play, rhythm, or the imagination below!

What’s the Rhythm of Spring? | Minds on Music

Viva la Kindermusik! Join Us for a Cinco De Mayo Playdate

Viva la Kindermusik! Cinco De Mayo Playdate 

Kindermusik with a spicy Mexican flair for Babies and Toddlers Birth-2 years. Did you know that Cinco de Mayo originated with Mexican-American communities in the American West as a way to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War? Well, I can't think of a better cause to celebrate! We'll sing, dance, play instruments and more!  And you'll bring home a ladybug bell shaker, scarf, a  Download card for 10 Kindermusik songs and a suggested songlist from the party playlist.Playdates fill fast, so register early! Viva la Musica!

p.s. Rumor has it that the a Taco Truck might appear.  

Please note that the Kindermusik Playdates at Mia & the Dragonfly are intented for children Birth-2 years.  Older siblings may attend.  If your child is 2 or older, please plan on attending the playdate at Little Treblemakers home studio.  Gracias! 

REGISTER NOW! 

When

Sunday May 5, 2013 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM PDT
Add to Calendar 

Where

Mia & the Dragonfly Baby Boutique
1005 N Cordova St
Burbank, CA 91505 

 
Driving Directions 

Contact

Patti James
Little Treblemakers
818-953-4954
liltreblemakers@aol.com

Little Treblemakers proudly offers Kindermusik for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids. Schedule your Free Preview Class today!Call/Text: 818-953-4954 Email: Liltreblemakers@aol.com