Hands-On Music (Feet, Shoulders, and Arms, Too!)
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Making music together is a fun way to bond with your child. Children are naturally creative and love arts-based learning because it feels like play. We grown-ups might feel a little self-conscious, but activities like singing and dancing are great opportunities for children to express themselves. Explore the tips below and the related actiivies to get your child moving to the beat!
Follow the Beat
Ask your child to repeat simple rhythmic patterns using a drum or by clapping. Encourage her to use different parts of her body to reflect the rhythm by stamping her feet, nodding her head, or blinking her eyes. Explore the different kinds of rhythm there are — loud and soft, and fast and slow — and let your child to create her own patterns for the group to enjoy.
Watch Video: Body Music
Talk Together: What sound would you make if you were in line with the kids?
Move to the Music Explore how music inspires us to move. Try whole body movements to different kinds of music. Talk with your child about using high and low space (the space closer to your head versus the space closer to the floor), making big and small movements, and moving fast and slow as the music changes.
Watch Together:
Jyah's Dance Class Talk Together:
What animal sounds can you make to stretch your face? How can you use your feet as a drum? Sing Every Day Pick a special time every day to sing with your child. Include a variety of chants, songs with finger-play, songs with silly sounds, naming songs, songs with movements, and quiet relaxing songs. Write down the words to your child’s favorite songs on charts and copy them so you can sing them together with his friends.
Watch Together:
Sing After Me Talk Together:
What would you sing if you were the leader like Ernie? Hear It, Draw It Help your child “see” what she hears. Play different kinds of music, rhythms, and sounds and ask your child to draw what she feels when she listens to the music. Try different materials such as crayons, watercolors, or easel paints to see how the artwork changes.
Watch Together:
Be an Artist Talk Together:
How are you an artist? Singing Scarves, Dancing Scarves Dancing is always more fun with some props. Cut or tear an old, plain-colored bed sheet into strips about six inches wide and three feet long. Tape the strips to a table or the floor so they are stretched out flat. Ask your child to decorate the strips using markers and crayons to make colorful scarves. Find some beautiful, “flowery” music and create your own color dance with the scarves.
Watch Together:
Be Doodle Dee Dum Talk Together:
How would you dance to Elmo’s silly song?
“For our family, music has become more than just a catchy tune or a lovely melody. It's the lullaby I sing for Rachel when she needs some comfort. It's the rockin' rhyme Tyce teaches me about fire safety. It's the Mozart that Bryce and I listen to as we work together on Saturday mornings. It's the song the four of us sing together every night before bed, just before saying the last "I love you." In short, it's what touches our hearts and makes us laugh--it's the best part of ourselves that we share with each other.”
—Rebecca Z. Jones
Related Information Kid-Tivities — Shake It Up
Make a musical instrument by reusing everyday household items.
