Circle Dances

Together we’re a circle of support, love, and belonging.

Our circle dances are a very special time in Our Time. A circle is a symbol of community, and in it we all contribute equally. For your toddler, our circle dances give him a chance to see everyone and be part of our community. There is no beginning or end to our circle, just as there are no leaders or followers; we all create our dance together.

At home this week sing, listen, and dance to all of the circle dances we’ve enjoyed as a group this semester. Whether you’re in a circle of two or many, your toddler will experience the vital feeling of belonging.

There’s a little drum a beating…it’s my heart!

Our entire lives, our heartbeat provides a constant sense of rhythm. It’s no wonder that we are all drawn to drums. Research shows that the act of drumming actually changes the chemicals in our brains, relieving stress and creating a sense of well being.

As you saw in class, there is no limit to the ways a drum can be made. This week play with your homemade drum together, and see what else you have that can be a drum.

I bet it “beats” any other activity you can think of!

What goes up…

…comes down with a bounce—and lots of laughter!

 

It’s all about learning something new the toddler way, which means challenging and inspiring that natural sense of wonder. And this week, it was about having a ball.

 

Toddlers don’t always realize the physical properties of a ball, and may be surprised and thrown off balance when a ball bounces back up. But, by practicing bouncing and rolling balls in class, she will learn to predict what the ball will do and move as she needs to maintain her balance and keep control of the ball.

 

She can use these balancing skills when learning new moves, like skipping and jumping. Rolling and catching the ball improves hand-eye coordination, which will help her with many activities as she grows.

 

The weekend will roll by quickly, I’ll see you Monday!

Smooth and Bumpy

Our new lesson focus, smooth and bumpy, introduces your toddler to two more important musical concepts.

A bumpy sound is called staccato. It sounds “choppy” like popcorn popping. A smooth sound is called legato, and it may sound more “flowing.” These different musical styles give music emotion, excitement, and expression.

 

By listening for and moving to these sounds, your toddler is improving his listening skills and developing a strong sense of music appreciation.

 

Hope your week goes more legato than staccato, and I’ll see you next week.

Care to share a new ritual?

By now you know your toddler thrives on routines and rituals. She’s comforted by predictability. Familiar patterns give her self-confidence and a feeling of control in a world that often feels out of her control.

 

Routines such as the Our Time “Hello” song, rocking time, circle dancing, and good byes form a solid structure for your toddler. These are activities she can look forward to each week.

 

Throughout your week at home, notice the rituals you have formed as a family and take care to preserve them. Just as in our classroom, they will bring a sense of security to you all.

 

See you next week, same time, same place.

Soaring, Soaring, Soaring

This week, try out our Run and Jump song in a new way–let your child run to you and jump into your arms. You can follow up with a rousing verse of “Soaring” as you fly through the sky!

Running and jumping into the arms of an adult is a favorite game of young children. It allows children to practice and master the skills of running and jumping and/or leaping. It also has meaningful emotional content. Knowing that Daddy or Grandma will catch him when he jumps is a display of trust and represents a level of emotional security in the relationship.

The Importance of Doing Nothing

Rocking time has many benefits, with vestibular stimulation, bonding, and listening to music being at the top of the list. Equally valuable is the opportunity during this time to just do nothing.

Children need time to be stimulated and engaged, and they need time to be at leisure. This down time is physically necessary for the brain to process the learning that occurs during structured activities and interaction.

So this week, feel free to do nothing!!

The children in our room go up and down…

all through the class! 

By moving our bodies, arms, and fingers up and down, listening to music with up and down melodies, and exploring our voices as they glide up and down, we not only hear the words, we can feel what these words mean, both in music and motion.  

Doing this, we’re learning in a multi-sensory way. People learn best in so many different ways. Experiencing and experimenting with our senses and how we learn best by using them means your child can discover the way she learns best.  

We’re up and out of here ‘till next time!

Has it ever been so much fun to fall down?

 Even in “All Fall Down,” we all knew when to fall, just by hearing the music. So often we rely on words to tell us what to do, but musical cues, or letting the melody “tell” us what to do can be just as clear. By listening and letting our bodies respond, we know when to fall down, how long to wait, and when to get up. 

Listening to musical cues is an important skill if your child ever belongs to a musical ensemble, and being a good listener is essential for whatever he chooses in life. 

Keep listening to your At Home CD and I’ll see you next week!

Walk! Run! Jump! Gallop!

Your toddler spends a lot of time working the big muscles he needs for walking and running. Equally important are the smaller muscles in his fingers, the fine motor skills. 

We use these muscles when we’re “walking” fingers, shaking eggs, rolling hands, wiggling thumbs, playing the sandblocks, even giving tickles! These activities help your toddler learn to use hands and fingers, which will lead to skills like stringing beads, turning the pages of a book, cutting with scissors, and gripping pencils.

This week have some fun with your fine motor skills.

See you next week!