Circle dances and singing create a sense of community

Even the very young begin to enjoy the pleasure of the circle, and listening and moving together. Rhythm, melody, and form are experienced directly in singing games. Because they are so joyous, the group will often want to repeat the games frequently. The repetitions of song combined with movement/dance are helpful in aiding auditory, muscular, and kinesthetic memory in a positive way. Forming a circle is an age-old way of playing together. Circle dances are tied to the tradition of folk dance, and both the songs and dances learned in that context are children's treasured memories. They are shared and passed on from generation to generation.

Why Gentle Bouncing is Beneficial in Music Classes for Children

With bouncing activities the adult can give the child a full-body experience of steady beat. This is especially important in our time, when adults and children alike spend a lot of time in a seated position (car, couch, etc). The rhythmic up-and-down movement on the parents' legs is very stimulating to the whole body of the child. The movement also enhances the vestibular function of the ear, which is to register body position, movement, balance, and speed.

The toddler feels confident holding the parents' hands and is free to enjoy a kinesthetic response to movement. Located in the muscles, joints, and tendons of the body, the kinesthetic system gives information on how the movement feels while it is happening. While in air momentarily, the child experiences a feeling of weightlessness that stimulates the brain's energy. The sound of the voice itself is pleasurable and energizing and heightens the delight of the rhythmic bouncing.

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Advice on choosing your seats on a plane

Experience may not be the best teacher, but it's a surefire way to learn. I just learned about seats on a huge transatlantic plane and how to choose yours. Before you make your selection, go to http://www.seatguru.com

Have the name of the airplane handy, such as Airbus A333
Then you can see which seats are better, which have less leg room, which to try for, and which ones to avoid.
I wish I had known this before my husband and I chose our seats for our Paris trip. We have seats with almost no leg room, and seats that are a bit more narrow than the rest of them! I'm hoping to be able to change them somehow, but yesterday that was not possible.
Yes, I know this has nothing to do with music but it might help with parenting if you are taking your children with you on a long trip.

Rain Sticks from Mailing Tubes

Your and your child can enjoy the sound of a gentle rainfall with this sound-alike “rain” instrument. You can create a noisy, kid-safe maze for falling grain with just a mailing tube and aluminum foil, and this gives toddlers plenty of crafting opportunities to "do it myself."
CRAFT MATERIALS:
16-1/2- by 6-inch piece of clear Con-Tact paper (optional)
Small pieces of colored tissue paper (torn or cut) (optional)
15- by 1-1.2-inch mailing tube (available for $1.50 at Staples)
2-1/2-foot length of aluminum foil
Broom
1/3 cup of rice
2 tablespoons of un-popped corn
Hot glue

Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours (but oh, it’s worth it)

1. To decorate -peel the backing off the Con-Tact paper. Let your child decorate the sticky side with tissue paper. (Alternatively, have her paint the tube, then cover it with the Con-Tact paper.) Wrap the paper around the tube and tuck the extra length inside the ends (for ease, cut small slits around the overhang before folding it in).

2. Crush the foil lengthwise into a long cylinder, then wrap it around the handle of a broom to form a coil. (it will look like a long lock of curled hair, sort of) Slide the coil off the handle, stretch it until it's slightly longer than the tube, then push it into the tube. Use hot glue or masking tape to secure the ends of the foil inside the tube, about 1/4 inch from each opening.

3. Hot-glue a cap to one end of the tube, then help your child pour the rice and corn into the other end (a funnel or small pitcher works well). Hot-glue the other cap in place. Now turn upside down to hear the rainfall. And turn upside down again, and again!

Thanks to FamilyFun.com for this!

Portable Behavior Kit for Parents

Time out is a good method to modify and shape your toddler's behavior. Once a child can walk and stand, having a time out as a consequence for willful disobedience is an effective way to help your child learn self control, and to recognize you as their God-given authority. A child psychologist suggested to me that I use a kitchen towel for this. At age 18 months, my son had to stand on the towel for 1.5 minutes during the time out. At age 2, 2 min. Age 3, 3 min., and so on. The last time he stood on a towel as a consequence was when he was 6 years old.

I kept a towel with me at all times. It worked in the grocery store, the parking lot at church, even at Epcot center. He was a strong-willed child, and by age 3, my husband and I had pretty much won the battle of the wills, thanks to this technique and to the towel! We did not discipline in anger, only in love, firmly, and often with tears in our eyes. Today, at age 23, my son is one of the happiest, most organized and motivated guys I've ever known. Self disciplined, generous, and joyful. Hey, we made lots of mistakes as parents, and I mean a lot. But with God's help, we did some things right.

Teaching a child to wait

In many songs and activities, there are moments when a child will wait naturally, especially in the Musikgarten program. One example is the song, "Well you walk and you walk and you walk and you....STOP!" This same delayed pause pattern shows up in many of the songs as well, like "My Little Rooster."
Here are some simple daily activities you can add to stretch those moments of anticipation. With infants it might include playing little movement and touch 'games' like lifting them way up and then back down into your arms, or circling your finger around and then landing gently on their nose. Do things that bring joy, not tears. Later, they might be more willing to put on their shoes if it means they will get to take a ride or a walk. They will love it if you bake cookies. You may hear your child say, "It's so HARD to wait for cookies to get done!" If you hear that, rejoice. You are giving your toddler a priceless opportunity to practice waiting. - Miss Susan