TheImportanceofMusicandMovement

byAprilKaiser(CCCTeacher)

Childrennaturallylovemusic!Whetheritssoftandsoothingoralivelytune,childrenfeelitbothphysically
andemotionally.

Throughouttheearlyyears,childrenarelearningtodonewthingswiththeirbodies.Youngchildrenarealso
learningthatmovementcancommunicatemessagesandrepresentactions.Youngchildrenareableto
performandrecognizepantomimedactionssuchasironing,stirring,swimming,orplayingthepiano.

Mostchildrenusuallyarequiteathomewithmovement.Theybegintolearnabouttheworldbyactingon
objectsandpeople,andtheythinkwiththeirbodieswellbeforetheythinkwithwords.Thisiswhybody
movementisnotonlyfunforchildrenbutalsoagoodopportunityforthemtosolveproblems.Whenyouask
questionsthatcallforverbalresponses(CanyouthinkofsomeotherwaysthatPoohcouldgetuptothe
honeytree?orWhatdidwedotomakeapplesauceyesterday?),somechildrenmayhavedifficulty
respondinginwords.Butwhenquestionscallformovement(Whataresomewaysyoucanthinkoftoget
fromonesideofthemattotheother?),childrenarentlimitedbytheirverbalabilities.Movementproblems
challengechildrenindifferentwaysandhelpteachers/parentslearnabouttheproblemsolvingandcreative
abilitiesoflessverbalchildren.

Singingorchantingcanhelpmakeroutineactivitiesandtransitions,suchasgatheringchildrenintoacircleor
groupactivity,smootherandmoreenjoyable.Andmusichelpstosetamood.Quiet,soothingmusiccalms
andrelaxeschildren,whilealivelymarchingtunerousesthemforenergeticcleanuptime.Musicand
movementarealsosocialactivitiesthathelpchildrenfeelpartofthegroup.

Aschildrengrowintheirappreciationofthebeautyofmusicanddance,theyacquireagiftthatwillbring
themgreatpleasure.Musicbringsanotherdimensionofbeautyintoourlives.Musicandmovementbenefit
achildsdevelopmentinmanyways.

Hereareskillsthatmusicandmovementcanhelpdevelop:

1. Participatinginagroup
2. Socialskills
3. Expressemotions
4. Enhanceselfconceptbysharingmusicanddanceofeachothersculture
5. Refinelisteningskillsnoticingchangesintempoorpitch
6. Awarenessofmovementandbodypositions
7. Creativityandimagination
8. Learnnewwordsandconcepts
9. Explorecauseandeffect
10. Developlargemotorskills
11. Improvebalance,coordination,andrhythmthroughdanceandmovementactivities
12. Improvesmallmotorskillslearningfingerplaysandplayingmusicalinstruments.

Sources:TheCreativeCurriculumforPreschoolChildrenbyDianeTristerDodgeandLauraJ.Colker