The beat goes on You can encourage your child to move to the beat of the music. This helps him to develop a sense of rhythm and order, and motor skills. Using a song while a strong beat is playing, sit on the floor with your child. Pat your knees to the rhythm of the beat, while saying "knees." Encourage her to imitate you. Eventually, she'll be able to pick out the beat on her own. A 3-, 4-, or 5-year old can begin to learn basic math concepts through rhythm. Encourage your child to clap out the rhythm of his name, and point out that he is matching his claps to the syllables in his name. Then try clapping to the names of family members and friends. Ask which names have more claps or fewer claps. The ideas of some, more than and less than are important in learning math. Benefits of exposing your child to music: 1. It aids in the acquisition of early language and motor skills. 2. It strengthens the emotional bond between the two of you. 3. It can increase listening skills, memory and concentration. 4. It can accelerate learning in math and reading. 5. It develops imagination, invention, creative thinking and communication skills. 6. It teachers such values as self-discipline, perseverance and responsibility. Ways to bring music into your child's life: 1. Invest in a good quality CD or tape recorder. 2. Play classical music in the car, at work and at home. Most children prefer orchestral works to single-instrument selections and fast, lively pieces to slow, sedate music. (Suggestions: "Classics for Children," Boston Pops, Arthur Fiedle; "Carnival of the Animals" by Camille Saint-Saens; "Peter and the Wolf" by Prokofiev; and "The Nutcracker" by Tchaikovsky). 3. Sing to your unborn child, your baby or your toddler. Sing anything; and don't worry if you can't carry a tune in a bucket. Your child won't care. 4. At night, play soothing classical music or vocal lullabies such as "Nursery Rhymes" by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Full Chorus. If you have a 4- or 5-year old, the "Classical Kids" series, which includes "Mozart's Magnificent Voyage," or "Introduction to the Classics" series are excellent. They combine classical music with stories. 5. Purchase or make age-appropriate musical toys and rhythm instruments, including xylophones, bells, rattles, drums and tambourines. 6. Give your child scarves, feathers or ribbons and turn on classical music. Let him dance, sing and improvise; and join him. 7. Play marches in the morning to help a 3-, 4- or 5-year old child get dressed, eat and brush her teeth. The strong rhythmic beat will help keep her focused on the task at hand. Meidya Derni URL: http://kids.ji-indonesia.com >> Kirim bunga dukacita, ucapan selamat dll ke mancanegara? Klik, >http://www.indokado.com/international/ >> Info balita, http://www.balita-anda.indoglobal.com Etika berinternet, email ke: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Stop berlangganan, e-mail ke: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
