Reimagining School Readiness: Music & Movement

by
24 shaker eggs

Music has so many benefits for children especially as they get ready for kindergarten. Caregivers expect a storytime to have music and songs, but many don’t realize the brain builders these songs can be. Music helps children learn about rhythm and develop listening skills. As we sing, we break up and slow down words and this helps build phonetic awareness, while also exposing children to new vocabulary. Songs can also be a comfort to many children and coupled with movement they can ease stress and help regulate emotions.

Music and movement events work to support positive physical well-being and motor skills, but can also include cross-domain content. 

  • Movement songs that identify parts of the body or repeat patterns of movement like Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes support cognition and introduce new vocabulary. 
  • Movement rhymes like Shake Your Legs and Stop or Freeze Dance, which, by asking children to follow directions and stop moving, help them with the process of self-regulation that strengthens approaches to learning. 
  • Songs like “If You’re Happy and You Know It” support social-emotional development activities.
  • Crossing the midline is an important gross motor skill used in reading and writing. Crossing the midline refers to an imaginary vertical line down the middle of your body. When you reach with your right hand to the left side of your body, you have “crossed” the midline. Songs like “The Wheels on the Bus” or dance moves that ask children to reach across their body practice this motor skill.
  • As children grab scarves or instruments they are building fine motor skills and as they move scarves around they are building gross motor skills. 

In a music and movement class, children begin with what they do instinctively: play! Imitation, experimentation, and personal expression occur naturally as students become confident, life-long musicians and creative problem solvers. 

Who is this kit for?

This kit will allow library staff to present play-based, interactive programs on music and movement for young children, ages 2 to 7. However, consideration should also be given to adult caregivers bringing the children to your programs. As you use this kit, be mindful of the ways in which you’re being a role model to FFN as you engage young children in concepts by asking open-ended questions and encouraging experimentation.

Contents

  • Lakeshore Learning 12’ Diameter Rainbow Parachute 
  • Picasso Roll-Up Piano
  • Kohala Ukulele and Case
  • Snark Ukulele Tuner
  • PlanToys Solid Drum 
  • 24 Shaker Eggs
  • 24 Rainbow Scarves 
  • 6 6” Steel Triangles
  • 4 Lakeshore Learning Heavy Duty Drums 
  • 4 Remo Tambourines 
  • 12 Lakeshore Learning Wrist Bells 
  • 15 Wooden Sticks 
  • Foam Stop and Go Sign 
  • Everyone Loves to Dance CD by Aaron Nigle Smith 
  • One copy of each of the following books:
    • Everything a Drum by Sarah Warren 
    • My Tata’s Guitar by Ethriam Cash Brammer
    • Who Has Wiggle-Waggle Toes? By Vicky Shiefman

Resources

General

For more information about music and movement:

For Inspiration

Stick Drum or Tambourine songs

Scarf songs

Parachute Songs

https://klmpeace.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/parachute-play-with-babies-and-toddlers/

Shaker Egg songs

Bell Songs

15 wooden sticks
Ukulele tuner and box
12 learning wrist bells
24 shaker eggs
Four children's drums and drumsticks
Solid wood drum and drumstick
Ukulele and case
Scarves in rainbow colors
12 ft parachute and bag
Four tambourines