Singing with your Preschooler
Singing is something many parents feel more than a little self-conscious about! However, songs and nursery rhymes are a fabulous tool for helping your preschooler develop a range of skills and are great fun too, once you shake off the feelings of self consciousness of course!
Here at KidooLand, we frequently use simple songs and nursery rhymes as well as dance and movement songs to help teach children of all ages English and/or to reinforce and revise vocabulary.
We've added a list (at the bottom of this article) of some of the other ways in which singing can help your child's development in the early years and beyond, but we'd also like to give you a few tips about how you can incoporate singing and nursery rhymes into your daily lives quickly and easily for maximum results.
Alternatively, let KidooLand take the lead vocals and join us for our new Music & Movement Class for toddlers on Thursday Mornings, 10h-11h (outside of school holidays). It's one hour of singing, dance and action songs that will have you and your little one on a musical high by the end!
10€ per session, reservation and payments in advance via: https://www.kidooland.com/0-3ansreservations
1.) Honestly, natural singing ability is less important than enthusiasm in your child's eyes so forget what you think you sound like and just sing to your heart - and your child's - content!
2.) If you feel self conscious about singing to your child, buy a CD of children's songs and nursery rhymes to singalong to.
3.) Keep a copy of that song CD in the car and put it on as often as possible to turn a boring journey into a moment of fun, silliness and learning!
4.) Get older children involved in singing to younger siblings as well.
5.) Take the focus off your voice with the use of action, dance and movement songs and rhymes: Walky round the garden, Incy wincy spider, Head, shoulders, knees and toes...
6.) From time to time, use musical instruments as well, especially with babies and toddlers, whilst singing to maintain interest and for added fun!
7.) Make songs work for you too - use a cleaning up song to help encourage your child to tidy up their toys for example or use a lullaby like Twinkle twinkle little star to indicate to your child that it's time for bed.
8.) To avoid boredom, little and often is the key so keep singing sessions short, but do sing together frequently throughout the day.
9.) Don't worry if your child doesn't join in the singing, it doesn't mean that they're not taking it all in and reaping the benefits!
Singing helps with:
* improving language and communication skills - songs teach lots of new vocabulary and enable childrent to express themselves at a time when forming their own sentences may not yet be that easy for them.
* improving memory
* attachment - singing is a great way for parents to bond with their child!
* creating a sense of community, tradition and history
* early academic skills - lots of children's songs help teach numeracy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, once I caught a fish alive!) and literacy (alphabet song)
* concentration
* motor skills - from simple action songs like Incy Wincy Spider to dance/movement songs like the hokey cokey and head, shoulders, knees and toes.
* boosting self-confidence
* musical skills - learning the basics about pitch, timbre and rhythm
*cardiac & respiratory function - yes, it's true, singing is an aerobic exercise that improves the cardiovascular system and the extra-oxygenated blood generated through singing will also help improve a child's levels of alertness. It's a also a great stress reliever!!
