A Family's Role In Developing Music and Movement at Home

Teachers should encourage caregivers to engage children in music and movement activities.  Many of today's families are responding to the research that shows the relationship between intellectual development and music literacy.  There are many things that parents can do to introduce music and movement to their children.  Just as caregivers help children learn to read and encourage reading readiness, they can also provide children with many musical experiences that provide a base for building music literacy.

The following list provides some ideas for families and caregivers to enjoy music and movement time with children.

• Express your own enjoyment of music and movement by singing, humming and dancing around the house.
• Interact with children and encourage them to explore different sound sources available throughout the home.  For example, an upside-down pot and a long wooden spoon serve as a great drum and mallet.
• Give children an opportunity to look at instruments up close.  Show them how to pluck a guitar string or strike a piano key.
• Dance with children.  Hold hands or pick them up and dance along to music.  Clap your hands to the rhythm of a good song.
• Make up songs about daily routines such as getting dressed, going for a ride, and blowing bubbles in the bathtub.