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Happy Earth Day! Let’s try something new today.

Posted April 22nd, 2010 in Blog Leave A Comment


Happy Earth Day!

kid child earth baby toddler kindermusik music earth day planet activities parents parentingAlmost any parent would agree that children should spend more time actively engaging their bodies and minds and less time in front of TVs, PSPs, DVDs, and computers. But even our best intentions can be hard to follow through on unless we have something to replace those things. If you want your kids to try something new, you’ve got to have replacement activities ready to go.

Not only is today Earth Day, but we’re also midway through TV Turnoff Week. So it’s the perfect day to say, “Kids, we’re going outside!” Make it fun! Make it an adventure. The more we can teach children that there is as much stimulation in the world outside the moving screen, the more willing they’ll be later in life to make that decision for themselves. As an added bonus, those who spend time outside inevitably develop an appreciation for Mother Nature, which is a perfect tie in on Earth Day.

So head outside! Tell your kids a story about the Earth. Make up an Earth-related song. Find some sticks or little stones and drum out a beat. Play a game that involves weather or seasons or plants. Do something different today. Who knows, tomorrow they may just want to do it all over again!

Want some more suggestions for TV Turnoff Week? Here’s some ideas for both indoors and outdoors.

www.screenfreeweek.org – this website was specially created by the publishers of the early childhood magazine, Tessy & Tab. It has lots of great ideas and tools!

play-activities.com – play activities for screen-free week

www.dorchesterhealth.org – 101 screen-free activities

play.kindermusik.com – our Kindermusik Play website has a number of free downloadable activities to accompany songs. Just look for the orange buttons with a capital A in a box. Those are free activities you can download and try at home.

Click here for a fact sheet on screens and very young children.

Special thanks to Kindermusik educator Theresa Case for contributing to this post. Theresa's Kindermusik program, Kindermusik at Piano Central Studios, is in the top 1% of all programs in the world.

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A life changed through music

Posted April 21st, 2010 in Blog Leave A Comment


music kindermusik scarf play learn ABC Music & MeAs you may know, ABC Music & Me is a Kindermusik curriculum that was developed to be used in preschools and group child care settings. We knew it was special, we knew it was good, and we knew it would allow us to reach out to so many more children—but I’m not sure any of us were quite prepared for the power of what was to come!

Every week, with joy, our “ABC team” receives calls and letters from parents and teachers who are quite simply bursting to tell us about the incredible impact ABC has had on their children and students, including so many who are at-risk or who have physical impairments or developmental delays. We never forget: music is magic, reaching out to every single child!

Here is a quick peek into our ABC Mail Bag. It’s the story of Ethan, from a letter from his mom:

My 4-year-old son, Ethan, has a mild form of autism and has been diagnosed with developmental delays, speech delays, and low muscle tone. It’s hard for him to run, bounce, and sometimes even walk. Even something as simple as sitting in circle time is hard. He struggles to sit and do schoolwork all day; he really needs a physical release.

We love ABC Music & Me because it’s so easy to use, it helps Ethan develop, and it lets us get involved at home. We listen to the CD at home and around town in the car, we have fun and get lots of ideas, and it gives us different ways to work on his speech, social, and OT issues, too. It’s so nice to get to use something at home that he truly enjoys!

In class, Ethan gets to play instruments and refine his motor skills. The scarf activities have been some of his favorites. At school, Ethan goes straight from music class to work on speech and reading, and his teachers tell me that he has been improving ever since ABC started! It’s such a confidence-builder for him to have his learning carry over to other parts of his day! He may not be able to do everything the rest of the students can do, but he CAN do this.

The program has been so good for Ethan. Music is a common thread for him. It helps him truly grasp what is going on. Some children may not be able to communicate their emotions, but through music, they can express themselves.
–Lisa Clifford, Ethan’s mom

For more information about the amazing impact Kindermusik’s ABC Music & Me curriculum is having in public school classrooms, visit www.abcmusicandme.com.

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Want some ideas for TV Turnoff Week?

Posted April 19th, 2010 in Blog Leave A Comment


family running laughing Kindermusik musicIt’s time to turn off the tube and get some fresh air! This week is the Center for Screen Time Awareness’s TV Turnoff Week. So, flip the switch, hit the button on the remote, unplug the DVR, and hop off that couch. The great thing about TV is the more time you spend away from it, the less you miss it!

We know it’s not always easy to peel kids away from the screen. And we know it’s easy to rely on the TV during those chaotic times when you have to get something done and the kids just won’t sit still or relax. But take this opportunity to try something new. Challenge yourself this week.

Here are a few activity ideas to try:

  • Replace a 20-30 minute TV program with your own musical play. Make up some simple songs, throw together some costumes with stuff from around the house. Encourage your kids to use their imagination and you do the same. Fully commit to the activity – kids know when we’re “faking it.”
  • How about a family karaoke night? Mom and Dad sing a song, then the kids take a turn. You don’t need a real karaoke machine (though all the better if you have one!); just put on your favorite song and sing along. Try singing some of their favorite kids songs. Needs to download some songs? Check out our Kindermusik Play website. Get three free mp3 downloads just for registering!
  • Go on a colorful treasure hunt outside. Pick a color and have your child try to find it in the yard. Once he or she finds the color, see if you can make up a little song about the color and the object.
  • Have a dance party! Indoors, outdoors, it doesn’t matter. Any time is a good time for a dance party. To add some motor skills and listening skills development, you can “freeze dance” by starting and stopping the music randomly to make everyone freeze. If you don’t have any music, just make up a little beat or ditty with the best instrument of all – your voice!

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Kindermusik app currently being featured at Apple’s App Store!

Posted April 14th, 2010 in Blog Leave A Comment


iPhone app store screen shot kindermusik music apps apple iPad iTouch parents children kidsKindermusik is very excited to announce that over 20 of our books are now available as apps in the Apple’s iTunes App Store! These apps can be used on the iPhone, iTouch, and iPad. Now you can bring these Kindermusik stories with you wherever you go! These books are from our Do Re Me & You series of products.

Most exciting, however, is that Apple is currently featuring our title, What Do You Say, Please & Thank You as a featured app right now! If you go to the App Store and click “Featured”, then scroll down, you’ll find it there.

To build the apps, we partnered with a company called ScrollMotion, who helped create the books with their Iceberg Reader product. The books are presented in a kid-friendly, picture-book reader format that allows children to turn and manipulate the pages themselves. The illustrations are clear and vibrant. Plus, one of the great features of each app is that you, a grandparent, a sister, a friend, or anyone can record your own voice reading the book. Kids love this feature.

To find our apps, just head to the App Store on iTunes or your iPhone/iTouch/iPad and search the word “Kindermusik” in the App Store. And don’t forget to find What Do You Say, Please & Thank You currently being featured at the App Store. Each app is very reasonably priced at $.99 each. Check them out today!

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Early education experts in the Kindermusik community

Posted April 12th, 2010 in Blog Leave A Comment


analiisa reichlin music Kindermusik educatorKindermusik’s top program in the world, Studio 3 Music, is run by a talented and dynamic trio of educators that includes Analiisa Reichlin. If you read Minds on Music regularly you may recognize Analiisa’s name as she often contribute posts to this blog.

Analiisa will soon be adding another entry to her long string of accomplishments when she’s featured as a regular commentator on BAM Radio program called “Music and the Brain.” BAM Radio is the largest education radio network in the World. And BAM couldn’t have made a better selection – Analiisa is a wealth of knowledge on this topic.

Analiisa, and educators throughout the Kindermusik network, are recognized as experts in the field of early education and childhood development. We’re proud to be represented by each and everyone one of them.

To keep up with Analiisa and her contributions to BAM, she will be blogging about her experiences at the Studio 3 Music blog.

About BAM Radio Network
The BAM Radio Network is an online, education-focused, radio network for parents, teachers, administrators, advocates, journalists, legislators and all people interested in education-related topics. The site offers 20 channels of education programming available on demand and hosted by leading educators. The network is a joint venture between privately held New Hampshire-based Moving & Learning and Los Angeles-based Jackstreet Media Ventures LLC. The programming is produced by Emmy-winning broadcaster Errol St. Clair Smith and distributed through the Affiliate Nanocasting Network.

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Musical activity ideas for some physical contact

Posted April 7th, 2010 in Blog Leave A Comment


mom child hug hold kindermusik music activities toddler infant baby preschoolerSeveral years ago at the Kindermusik Educator Convention in San Antonio, TX, Dr. Carla Hannaford, Ph.D., talked about the absence of touch in many early childhood care environments. Young children today will often be reprimanded for touching, holding hands, hugging, and being given the freedom to wrestle and topple over each other. Dr. Hannaford asserted that all of these actions are actually essential for spatial awareness and strengthening neural wires in the brain.

In the spirit of Dr. Hannaford’s ideas, we wanted to share two musical activities that involve touch and physical contact. These activities were pulled from the Huggies Happy Baby site under an article called Toddlers Express Themselves through Dance.

Activity 1: Musical Hugs
To play, put on some music and dance around with your little one(s). Dance any way you want. At a random moment, pause the music and hug! Then start the music back up and get dancing again.

If you have lots of family members or kids playing, everyone hugs whoever is closest to them. If you're having a birthday party with lots of kids attending, consider playing this game instead of Musical Chairs. Musical hugs allows everyone to play and doesn’t result in any “losers” like Musical Chairs does. This game also promotes listening skills and practice with starting and stopping. The added bonus is the positive physical contact, which strengthens the bond between you and your toddler.

Activity 2: Musical Partners
A variation on the above game, this requires players to find each other, hold hands and sit down until the music starts again! If you have several players, the game also can be played in two circles, one inside the other (one partner in the inside circle and one in the outside). When the music starts, the circles move in opposite directions. When it stops, the children run to their partners, hold hands and sit down.

Try one of these activities today, or make up your own game. Either way, don’t be afraid of squeezing those little ones tight!

Want more musical activity ideas? Try a free Kindermusik class near you.

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Kindermusik educators in the (well deserved) spotlight

Posted April 1st, 2010 in Blog Leave A Comment


Kindermusik toddler music infant baby preschool movementKindermusik toddler music infant baby preschool movementAt Kindermusik International, nothing makes us happier than to see our super talented Kindermusik educators spotlighted in news stories or with awards. When you put a Kindermusik educator in the spotlight, her passion for music, love of children, and dedication always shine.

Congrats to both Suzanne and Laura on this well deserved recognition!

Thanks to Kindermusik educator Theresa Case for contributing to this post. Theresa's Kindermusik program, Kindermusik at Piano Central Studios, is in the top 1% of all programs in the world.

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Sing your baby talk

Posted March 29th, 2010 in Blog Leave A Comment


baby mom parent kindermusik sing voice developmentEven before your baby is born, she responds to the sound of your voice. Researchers have observed that a baby in the womb can respond to the sound of a mother’s voice as early as 5 months into pregnancy.

After your baby is born, you’ll naturally talk to him or her in a cooing, sing-song-y language formally called infant-directed talk (IDT) or child-directed speech (CDS). Some also refer to it as “motherese” or “parentese.” But we know it more commonly as baby talk.

Research shows that these are the first sounds that your baby will try to imitate with cooing and babbling. Studies have also shown that children can recognize and even imitate certain musical notes. So, mix up your language-building parentese with singing, talking, and rhyhming. This will help expose your baby to a variety of sounds to aid her singing and language development.

Kindermusik Tips:
• Your Baby: In the first year, your baby will be especially interested in listening to the sound of you singing. So, choose songs that you love, hold her close, and sing and dance together.
• Your Toddler: Simple songs that go back and forth between two notes are easiest for toddlers to repeat. Songs with this interval include, “Rain, Rain, Go Away” and “Star Light, Star Bright.”
• Your Preschooler: Expand your preschooler’s musical vocabulary by adding more notes with songs like, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” “Baa Baa, Black Sheep,” and “The Alphabet Song.”

Want to discover even more great techniques to use with your baby? Try a free Kindermusik Village class today. Village is for caretakers and babies from newborn to 18 months. Visit our Kindermusik Class Locator to find a class.

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Music helps stroke victims communicate

Posted March 24th, 2010 in Blog Leave A Comment


music kindermusikWe all know music can be a powerful thing. But the beauty of music is that we learn new things about it every day. Research has really just begun to scratch the surface of how powerful music can be.

A great example of this is an article we recently came across in the Wall Street Journal. The article’s headline is “Music Helps Stroke Victims Communicate, Study Finds.” It’s pretty astounding stuff.

The article describes a small research study that “produced often dramatic results in 12 patients whose speech was impaired after a stroke to the left hemisphere of the brain.” This was accomplished using a method called melodic intonation therapy, which teaches the patients “to speak in a more ‘sing-songy’ way than a person with normal speech.” The audience at the American Association for the Advancement of Science greeted the results “with enthusiastic applause.” Further studies are currently being planned.

This could really change lives. And it’s just another example of the power of music. At Kindermusik, we firmly believe that music can change lives, including very young ones. The research proves this as well. You can learn more about our baby, toddler, and big kid music and movement classes.

There are certain to be even more fantastic discoveries about music in the coming years. We can’t wait!

If you’d like to read the full article, here is the link: Music Helps Stroke Victims Communicate, Study Finds

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What goes up, must come down

Posted March 23rd, 2010 in Blog Leave A Comment


Did you know that children learn concepts best in opposites? It’s why in your Kindermusik class, you’ll learn fast/slow, smooth/bumpy, high/low, among many other pairs. It’s why in school, addition and subtraction are taught back to back. It’s why when you begin to drive, your teacher makes sure you know where both the brake and the gas pedals are!

Learning opposites enhances vocabulary and word association, encourages sensory and motor development, develops discrimination and classification skills, and provides plenty of opportunity for fun games. The farther apart the opposite (black and white, hard and soft), the easier it is for children to master the concept. When you add an interactive approach, this learning becomes highly enjoyable.

Here’s a few “opposite” activities:

When doing these, be sure to label the opposite words. (It’s pretty easy to forget to do that, as we adults already know the vocabulary!)

· Try tasting some opposite things like sweet sugar and sour lemon.
· Sort round cans and square boxes when putting away the groceries.
· Music is full of opposites. Put on your favorite piece of Kindermusik (or music with pitch or tempo variation), and move high and low, or fast and slow.
Sing a song silly! (High and then low, or fast and then slow.)
· Move. Go and stop. Take big steps, and little steps. Go under, go over.
· Open and shut the doors. Or cupboards. Cause seriously, if they don’t learn both opening and shutting in a pair now, your fridge is going to constantly be left open when they are a bit older!
· Identify back or front. Left or right. Short and tall. Boy or girl. Young or old. Dirty or clean. Empty or full.
· Feel the objects around you. Hard or soft? Rough or smooth? Hot or cold?
· Read some opposite books, and talk about what you see. Here’s some favorites: "Dinosaur Roar," by Paul and Henrietta Stickland. "Big Dog, Little Dog," by P.D. Eastman. "The Foot Book," by Dr. Seuss.

Even babies learn opposites. Talk to your baby as you go throughout the day, and emphasize the opposite words with your vocal inflection. “I’m going to pick you up.” “We are going down the stairs.”Really, the possibilities are endless. Just have fun with it!
-posted by Miss Analiisa, whose two oldest children are oil and water.

Special thanks to Analiisa Reichlin for allowing us to share such this post from the Studio 3 Music Blog. Analiisa is Director of Studio 3 Music in Seattle, Washington, the world’s largest Kindermusik program.

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