Music and movement are the two most intrinsic components of a preschool curriculum, as they produce a rich sensory experience that touches on many areas of child development. Furthermore, music activities are not just enjoyable but also important in developing the cognitive, emotional, and physical growth of a child. Let’s review the value of music and movement activities in an early childhood education setting—how these two elements can be effectively interwoven into the learning environment to provide children with important life skills from coordination and motor skills to creativity, social interaction, and many more.
What is Music and Movement?
Music and movement activities involve children participating in listening to music, singing, dancing, and making rhythmic movements. This kind of activity would let children work on gross motor skill development, coordination, and foster a sense of enjoyment of the music.
Importance of Music and Movement
Music and movement are very significant parts of brain development. One can open up the lines of communication between both sides of the brain through listening to music, whereby the left brain is processing the words while the right brain does the rhythm. Children who get early exposure to music have an increase in their cognitive development, thereby their memory, attention, and emotional regulation.
Brain growth completely goes hand in hand with music and dance, according to Dr. Swati Vats, co-founder of Podar Prep. She says that music has the ability to make the two hemispheres of the brain communicate with each other and promote the growth of the brain as a whole.
Ways to Incorporate Music and Movement in Daily Learning
- Daily Routines: Integrate music into daily activities like cleanup time, transitions, and circle time.
- Storytelling: Use songs and rhythmic activities to tell stories and teach new concepts.
- Interactive Games: Engage children in musical games that involve movement, such as “Simon Says” with musical cues.
Activities to Do (Age-wise)
- Toddlers (1-3 years): Simple songs with hand movements like “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” and dance to nursery rhymes.
- Preschoolers (3-5 years): More structured activities like “Red Light, Green Light” where children move to music when shown green and stop when shown red. Introduce simple musical instruments like tambourines and maracas.
- Kindergarteners (5-6 years): Introduce more complex dance routines and musical patterns. Encourage group activities like singing in rounds or playing in a small band.
According to Dr. Swati Vats, a child should be exposed to two kinds of music: contemporary and classical. She recommends games such as “Red Light, Green Light” for contemporary music, to make them move and have fun. She proposes that the classical music be played during mealtime or bath time, when one would want to unwind and refresh the children for the developmental milestones. Moreover, she suggests that children be surrounded by music in their everyday activities, making them calm and energetic due to the rhythms and melodies involved.
Conclusion
Music and movement activities form an integral part of the portions that drive early childhood education since they enhance the development of a child physically, cognitively, and emotionally. The integration of these activities into daily learning provides a holistic educational experience that works on a child’s development.
We believe that music and movement form a part of the all-round development of our students. So at Podar Prep, we include them in our curriculum. Join us in giving your child the gift of music and dance so they grow and learn in a lively, caring environment.Ready to enrich your child’s learning journey with music and movement? Enrol at Podar Prep today
