I love the "sound" of silence, but I will admit there have been times in my parenting days, that the quietness of my home brought an uneasiness within me. There were the times as a new mom that I had to draw close to my sleeping little one to feel the warm breath from the tiny nose and watch the chest as it moved rhythmically up and down. There were plenty of times that silence meant a toddler was up to something, and my expectations of finding a toddler in the middle of a mess were sometimes, but thankfully, not always right.
Silence plays a role in making music. Silence makes us wait, makes us listen, and gives us time to wonder what's next. After the silence, our expectations are either confirmed or contradicted. In the first three lessons of Dream Pillow the contrast between sound and silence is highlighted. Watch and observe your little one during these moments and see how they listen with intention and sensitivity.
The concepts of Long and Short in relation to both sound and movement is the focus for lessons 6-10. In class the children experience these concepts through movement by taking long and short steps in "The Grocery Store," tapping and rolling shaker eggs in "Shake Your Eggs," and exploring moving around the room while listening to to "Bread and Coffee". Kindermusik is rich in activities that integrate moving, listening,singing and feeling. This integration optimizes potential learning. If you want to read more about how literacy and movement go hand in hand click here: Linking Literacy and Movement
"Ziggy Zag Zoom" In class we made a pull-toy using a bell instruments and scarf. The use of pull toys is a fun way to encourage your baby and toddler to learn eye-hand coordination. Motor skills such as reaching and walking are enhanced through the interaction with pull toys. There is a wide range of pull toys from small and inexpensive to elaborate and pricey. Remember, babies find fun in just about everything. Boxes, tubes, containers, cups, spoons, wrapping paper – you name it. It doesn’t have to be an ‘official toy’ to provide entertainment - the whole world is one big playground. Open up your plastics cupboard and raid the recycling, you’ll be surprised with just what you come up with. Here are a few ideas on making homemade baby and toddler toys..Homemade Baby Toys
