Following these guidelines will help you to have a rewarding experience in music and movement classes with your child. These are practical tips gathered from experts in the field of early childhood music education.
1.
MODEL FOR YOUR CHILD. Parents and other caregivers are the most important influence in the musical development of children. Your full and active participation in class activities will model behaviors and attitudes that your child will “catch” and will help encourage lifelong enjoyment and participation with music. Even if you feel musically inexperienced or shy about singing in a group, find a way to let your child know you enjoy making Music Together
®. Your voice is the voice your child wants to hear.
2.
MODEL AND WAIT. Children have varied personalities and styles of learning. Some children will actively participate in class. Others will quietly observe and absorb all of the musical information and experiences. Many parents report that their children prefer to practice musical sounds privately at home or in the car. In class, try not to have participation expectations for your child or to compare your child’s musical behaviors with those of other children. Instead, find a way to enjoy the activities with your child at his or her level of participation.
3.
ENCOURAGE EXPLORATION INSTEAD OF EXPECTING CORRECTNESS. Some parents are eager to help their child play an instrument or do an activity the “right” way. In early childhood music classes, we encourage exploration with instruments and sounds rather than expect correct performance. It is not unusual for children to suck on instruments or use them in unconventional ways. Furthermore, keeping a steady beat is a skill that develops when children are ready, not when parents or teachers show children how to do it right. In addition, many children enjoy using their own way of participating in an activity. They may want to stand up and move around even though others in class are sitting and rocking. This is all very normal. Try not to interfere with the learning process by giving verbal instructions to your child, by holding their hands to help them do it the “right” way, or by forcing them to do an activity exactly as others are.
4.
MANAGE DISCIPLINE ISSUES QUICKLY AND QUIETLY. Parents occasionally need to make sure that no one is hurt in class or that property is not damaged. For minor discipline issues, use an approach that will not interfere with classroom instruction. The less you talk, the better it is for everyone in class. If your child experiences a total meltdown or cannot quickly settle down, feel free to briefly leave class and return when you are ready. In addition, do not be concerned if your toddler chooses to wander during activities. Toddlers are very capable of absorbing musical information even if they appear to be more interested in something non-musical. And finally, leave food and toys outside the classroom. Fewer distractions in class allow more opportunity for children to engage in musical activities.
5.
CHOOSE A QUALITY PROGRAM. Although all music programs know the value of early musical experiences for children, they do not all agree on how to best provide those experiences. There are differences in philosophy, curricula and teacher preparation and support that result in a variety of classroom experiences. Since all children are born with the potential to learn to “speak” and understand music just as they learn to speak and understand language, feel free to ask how your teacher will help you nurture your child’s potential. Talk with the center director or visit a class to find out whether the instructor is able to effectively execute a music lesson plan, address the individual differences in the classroom, establish a comfortable, playful, developmentally appropriate, and musically rich learning environment, and encourage adult participation.
Music Moves
www.musicmovesforchildren.com
616-281-8901
