For this “Baby Boomer,” it seems like just yesterday that I was in Mrs. Louise’s Kindergarten here in Opelika.
As a child, I can still remember how excited I was to go to preschool and kindergarten just to sing! Singing came so natural to me as a child because it brought such joy! I hear that same joy and innocence as I listen to children sing.
I absolutely love to walk down the halls of a preschool building as I listen to children greet the morning with songs. Humming, singing or a happy baby gurgling indicate a child is happy. Children love to make music!
An infant quickly recognizes mother’s singing voice. Part of bonding with an infant is for mommies and caregivers to sing to their babies. You do not have to be on key at all to sing to your child.
Toddlers and twos are great imitators. Toddlers love to listen and do songs that involve motions with their hands and feet. Preschool age children enjoy music just for music. They love to sing and hum when they are playing and doing their little jobs. Children love and respond happily to music directions – try it at home!
Playing music in your home or car is thoroughly enjoyed by your child. Music can definitely set the mood for a happy day. One goal that a child tries to accomplish is to pucker their lips in a whistle! It may take a while to learn but while they are learning they blow little tunes through their lips.
Children love to do moving exercises with music. They love to dance, skip, run and jump to different rhythms. Clapping a simple rhythm helps your child with comprehension, memory making and math. Using music to help your children to memorize words, math facts, and other lists, plants it in their memories.
Point out in nature different birds that chirp and sing. Just being outside going on a nature walk, children can listen to many different animals that just might be communicating in a song. As fall and winter approach and the winds begin to blow, a child can use their imagination as they listen to the wind blow in song.
Parents, there are so many CDs in the early childhood world to teach and entertain your child for hours. Children love to make their homemade instruments with pots, pans, spoons, empty boxes around the home. On taking afternoon naps or going to sleep at night, sweet lullabies relax your child and help your child to drift off to sleep.
There are so many ways for you as a parent to share the gift of music with your children. Wake up your child with a song on their heart. Plant a song in your heart as well.
Beth Pinyerd has taught young children in the Early Childhood Classroom for 34 years as well as outreaching to the elderly in intergenerational settings. She has taught and outreached in the schools in the Opelika Community and Baldwin County Community. She holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Child Development both from Auburn University. Her husband is the late Carl Pinyerd and she has one son, Gus Pinyerd who has taught her so much about learning. Classroom Observer is here to serve the community in sharing the wonderful teaching programs in our local public schools, private schools, and homeschools. The column is provided to enrich the education of our children, youth, and families. Classroom Observer welcomes educational news, school news, pictures, and events by e-mailing her at donnapinyerd@att.net.