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Sing. Sing
a song. Sing with your children. Sing for fun!
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Listen
to different kinds of music. Move to the music by dancing, marching,
or wiggling in silly ways. Get your child interested in music from
the very first day you bring your baby home by making music part
of your everyday life.
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Play
or sing the same songs over and over again. Repetition is the easiest
and fastest way to teach your child a song.
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Use
songs to initiate transitions in your child's day. For breakfast
sing, "'If you're hungry and you know it clap your hands.' Sit
at the table and give mommy a kiss..." Sing clean-up songs when
you are picking up toys. Choose favorite songs to sing at naptime
and bedtime.
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Act
out songs while you sing. "Itsy Bitsy Spider" is a common
song to act out while you are singing. Make up your own actions
for songs like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," or sign
the alphabet while singing the ABCs.
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Playing
and singing children's music is a good way to keep children entertained
while travelling. Buy a cassette tape or CD to listen to while in
the car. There's a wide selection of sing-along tapes available
for every age group.
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Include
music in physical play. Move while the music is playing and freeze
when the music stops. Teach rhythm by clapping and marching in
time to music.
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Sing.
Sing songs with your child when you see objects that remind you
of a song. Sing when you are walking, shopping or cleaning. Make
music a part of your toddler's life by making music a part of your
life.
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Tips
Buy
a tape player and cassette tapes for your child to play. Collect different
types of instruments for your child to play. Talk about the different
kinds of instruments you hear when listening to a piece of music.
Warning
You
may want to stay away from chaotic styles of head-banging rock, grunge
and rap music. Some animal studies have shown altered brain development
due to prolonged exposure to chaotic, discordant music.
For
Further Reading
Read
what experts say about music and your child's development. Try these links
to learn more.
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/6549.html,
BabyCenter, "Music and Your Toddler/Preschooler (Ages 1 to 3)"
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/496.html,
BabyCenter, "Our Favorite Children's Music"
About
the Author Angela
LaVelle
graduated from Florida Atlantic University
(U.S.A.) in 1995 with a Bachelor's of Education in Specific Learning Disabilities.
She has taught students from daycare to middle school specializing in
children with learning and behavioral disabilities. Now a mother of three,
Angela researches and writes family and educational articles for Internet-based
sites.
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