4 WAYS TO INCORPORATE MUSIC IN THE EARLY YEARS

1. The goal is fun! Don’t focus on achievement. Allow for playfulness and enjoyment. If you sing, they will sing, if you sit and listen they will sit and listen. Once you know the song turn off the recording and sing and dance with them.

2. Use songs they can relate to. They do not just need to be based on season but could be about their personal experience, and opportunities to build music skills like rhythm and pitch. We love using the song “this is my book” by Laurie Berkner which encourages kids to open up a pretend book and talk about what is inside of it.

3. Schedule music time in, make it a part of your regular routine, and don’t rush it. Making music a regular part of your day whether you are at home with your kids or in a daycare or classroom. Giving kids a time for creative expression is a great part of a daily schedule. Keep it simple! You do not need to spend hours learning new songs, kids still love wheels on the bus, Old McDonald and so on

4.  Provide a lot of time for movement. Getting up and moving gets kids more engaged. We like to start with a hello song, followed by movement. Encourage adults in the room to move as well. Same with singing, if you feel free to move to the songs so will they. Even babies will naturally move along to rhythm.

“If I didn’t think music could help save the human race, I wouldn’t sing.” Pete Seeger

Research shows that music has many benefits for kids. This includes executive functioning (our ability to organize new thoughts, ideas and information) social, language and communication abilities, as well as emotional well-being.