Music to Teach By

Music can be a great way to stimulate and educate a young child, but where do you begin? We'll give you some practical ways to incorporate music into your little one's day...

---

Let's Learn!

All children love to sing and mimic what they hear. I'm sure you've heard kids singing along to cartoon theme songs or commercial jingles they hear on TV or the radio. While this may be fun at first, some kids end up repeating songs and phrases over and over without really understanding the meaning of what they're saying. Rather than allowing your child to pick up and repeat pointless songs, teach her meaningful songs that will encourage language and growth. Songs like Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes teach body awareness and the names of body parts. Here are more songs to sing with your child:

All of these songs link to Songs for Teaching, a great site where you can listen to the song, read the lyrics, and purchase the CD.

• The Hokey Pokey: Teaches the concept of "in" and "out," body awareness and movement, and names of the body parts.



• 1, 2, Buckle My Shoe: A counting song. Collect the objects in the song and play with them as you sing.



• Ten in the Bed: A counting song. Encourage your child to jump, roll, or "fall" while you sing.



• Simon Says: Teaches your child to follow directions
• Sounds from A to Z: Teaches the letters and their sounds.

Throw a Music Party!

Kids need to play with other kids, and sometimes homeschooled children can feel pretty isolated. Music parties can be a great way for kids to get together. Get all of your homeschool friends (and maybe some of those public-schooled friends, too) to come over and play song-based games. For example...

• Break out the Instruments and let them have at it!



• Play Musical Chairs to your kids' favorite children's CD.



• Music Circle is a game where all of the kids sit in a circle and pass a bean bag from person to person. In the middle of the circle is a box filled with common objects (like a hat, crayons, a spoon, etc). Play music and when it stops, whoever is holding the bean bag has to go to the box, remove an object, and demonstrate through pantomime how it is used. This usually brings great laughs.



• A variation on a favorite game is Musical Follow the Leader. Have all the kids sit in a circle around the leader who controls the music. When the leader stops the music, she gives a command (like "All of the boys stand up!"). Everyone follows the command until the music stops again and the leader gives a new command.



• Another fun music game is What's in the Bag? Place an object in a bag and have the children pass it around. Sing this song:
  
  What's in the bag, what's in the bag,
  What's in the bag today, today?
  What's in the bag, what's in the bag,
  What's in the bag today?
  Pass it around the people ring,
  I wonder what is in this thing?
  (Child's name), it's your turn to play,
  Tell us what's in the bag today!
  
  The child you chose then has to guess what's in the bag. Begin again with a new object in the bag.

Don't be Scared!

You can also use Music to encourage an unmotivated child or calm a distressed child. For example, if you're introducing your child to a new environment, it may seem frightening to her. Try placing her in a comfortable corner with a stereo playing soothing music set between her and the rest of the room. Lower the volume gradually until she becomes accustomed to the new noises in the room. This technique is especially useful with special needs children.

Let's Move About!

You can also use music to play games that will encourage your child to explore her environment. Here are a few ideas:

• Hide a musical toy or a stereo somewhere in the room and have your child find it.



• Have your child find an object before the music stops.



• Go about the house or neighborhood and record sounds. Take your tape of recorded sounds home and see if you can identify them.



• Sing a song about objects in the room and have your child find the object. Describe the object in your song but don't name it. Think of it as a musical scavenger hunt!

Have Fun!

Music is a wonderful way to play with and educate your child because it encourages listening and moving. Use music throughout your homeschool plan, but remember the most important thing...

Have Fun With Your Kids!