Valentine’s Kindermusik-Style
Wanna’ make some sweet Valentines for friends and family? Here are some they will enjoy now and treasure for years to come.
Making Valentines with Babies
Make a recording of you engaging in some vocal play with your child. You might read a book and allow your child to share in the play of copying animal sounds or car, bus, or truck sounds. You could also simply play with tongue clicks, favorite syllables (ba, ma, da), or blowing raspberries and see if your child will follow along. Create your own little conversation, pausing to allow him to add his own sounds as he chooses. Label the recording with the date and age of your child and give it along with a card as a gift to your chosen Valentine. Have fun and remember that along the way you’re encouraging important language and turn-taking skills.
Making Valentines with Toddlers
Follow the instructions for the activity above with a few adaptations. You might see if your child would “read” a favorite book such as Shiny Dinah from memory or even sing or echo sing a favorite song (you sing part of the song, and he echoes back with the same). If reading a book, try asking your toddler what comes next in the story in order to build sequencing skills.
Making Valentines with Toddlers, Preschoolers, and School-aged Children
Select several favorite songs, maybe even some songs that say “I love you.” Record your child singing them along with you. You might even think about adding some instrumental accompaniment with a simple percussion instrument, like an egg shaker or a drum. Give the recording along with a card to your Valentine.
In addition to creating a great memory and gift, you are encouraging your child’s solo singing abilities as well as creativity and problem solving. Make sure to include him in the choices of songs, the making of the card, and the choice of instrumental accompaniment (if included). School-aged children may even want to create a song of their own!
Enjoy your Valentines!
Play Brings Big Dividends
Are you looking for a way to slow down and “de-stress” your busy life? Try playing with your child! Try getting back in touch with that playful, creative child inside of you and the imaginative, engaging child in front of you.
Many parents don’t play with their children. They buy them toys to “occupy” them. They are missing one of the best ways to “bond” with their child – to strengthen and reinforce the relationship. Dr. Stanley Greenspan, a pediatric psychiatrist, and author of First Feelings, Milestones in the emotional development of your baby and child, coined the term “Floor Time” and outlines how parents can connect with their children in this emotionally powerful way.
How to Do It
- Let the child take the lead and decide what to play. You act as the “stage manager” and help gather the things you’ll need. Then ask the child what role you should play, and even what you should do. “What are we playing?” “Who am I?” “What should I do?” Let your child be the train conductor and you be the passenger.
- Do what she says. If you’re playing with blocks, copy what the child is building, or build something similar. In pretend play, go with her idea and play your assigned role.
- Add an idea. After you’ve copied her, add a small new idea of your own. See if she accepts it. If not, go with her agenda. Let her add to that idea and see how many back and forth new ideas you can come up with.
- Sustain the play. See how long you can keep it going, keeping her interested.
- Don’t edit. There are only two rules for your child: 1.) No hurting, and 2.) No breaking things. Otherwise, anything goes. See where your child takes the play theme.
Materials to Use
This type of play works best with pretend play and dolls, puppets or stuffed animals, or playing with miniatures.
What’s the Benefit?
There are many benefits when you play with your child. It’s about power. You are putting your child in a position of legitimate power. He can take the lead and direct what’s happening. Playing this way can help reduce other “power struggles” you may be experiencing. It is also suggested that you increase the amount of “Floor Time” play after you have had to discipline your child or impose limits. It re-establishes the positive emotional connection.
It is also a way of showing your child that you find him interesting and that you value his ideas. “You have such good ideas. I would never have thought of that.” You can learn about your child, as well. You may find out about what is on his mind, or hear some vocabulary you didn’t know he had.
Play becomes richer than when the child plays alone or with an age-mate. You are teaching your child how to be a good player and how to elaborate roles, add ideas and take suggestions from others. You are supporting your child’s imagination.
Finding the Time
One suggestion is to turn the TV off for half and hour and play, read or listen to music. It should be when everyone is reasonably relaxed and not hungry.
Remember, this is what real “quality time” is all about. It works with any age child, even babies. You’ll have fun, you’ll laugh, you’ll relax and your child will remember these times.
- Written specifically for Kindermusik International by Karen Miller, Early Childhood Expert, Consultant and Author
Just Can’t Stop
It doesn’t matter the age – kids love to move, or be moved. Bouncing, wiggling, running, jumping, climbing on furniture, it seems they never stop. And in fact, such energetic locomotor movements are valuable, appropriate, and fun activities for little ones. The child’s innate need to move is inextricably linked to learning. We not only learn to move as we grow, but we literally move to learn. Educational Psychologist, Dr. Becky Bailey is fond of saying, “The best exercise for the brain is exercise”, and science bears it out. (Just check out the recent Newsweek article on how to make yourself smarter.) So, movement is important and provides outlets for your child’s energy as well as for her skill development.
Moving and controlling one’s movements are learned skills, and one of the best features of learning to regulate one’s movements as we learn to crawl, walk, run, jump, and swing is that it helps us learn inhibitory control, or the ability to stop oneself and wait. Now, I love inhibitory control because it’s an amazing developmental bonus you can often hide in a fun activity or game. Kids will be playing along, giggling and smiling and never know that they are working on learning how to stop and wait, which really means they are learning self-control or impulse control. Having inhibitory control is important for social skills like taking turns, waiting in a line, waiting your turn to speak, asking for a toy rather than just grabbing it from another kid (or pushing them over for that matter). Inhibitory control helps us stop and think through the choices rather than repeating past behaviors that got us into trouble like hitting a sister, jumping on the couch, or eating all the cookies. In fact, a lack of impulse control or inhibitory control can cause us to get into a lot of trouble in school as well as in life.
So, I mentioned earlier that I love inhibitory control because it’s so easy to sneak it into fun activities. How? Simply play “Stop and Go” games. Even babies love ‘em because they delight in anticipating when the stop and start will come, while kids of all ages find great joy in developing mastery over their own bodies as they command their feet to stop. We’re going to be doing lots of stop and go play in all our classes over the course of the semester. But here are some fun things you might try at home:
- Learn the ASL sign for STOP. One fun way to add stop and go to almost any activity is to learn the ASL sign for STOP. In class with the preschoolers you might hear us chant, “Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, walk, and STOP (all-caps is a common signifier for American Sign Language signed words). Simply as it sounds, the kids love it. You can use any locomotor movement – jump, drive, swing. For babies, this can be a great way to teach the sign. Simply push baby in a baby swing and then surprise them with a quick STOP as you sign STOP.
- Play Move and Freeze. It’s musical chairs. Well, sort of. Most of you probably remember in playing musical chairs how you moved to the music, and when the teacher paused the music you had to race to find a seat. Same idea minus the chairs. Instead of racing to find a seat when the music stops, simply freeze your body. If you want to add more silliness for preschoolers or big kids try have them freeze in silly shapes or statues when you pause the music.
- Play Red Light Green Light. This is another game I remember fondly from my childhood. It’s a little too involved for toddlers unless they have adult assistance, but it would be great fun for preschoolers with a bit of help or bigger kids on their own. One person (works well for a grownup to take this part) is the traffic light and stands a good distance ahead of the other players with his back turned to them. The traffic light calls out “green light”, which means the other players can attempt to sneak up and tap him on the shoulder. However, when he calls “red light”, they have to freeze before he turns around and catches them. Anyone the traffic light sees moving when he turns must return to the starting line. The first player to sneak up and tap the traffic light wins.
Out and About in KC: Favorite Holiday Activities for the Under 5 Set
by lalofont used by Creative Commons License via Flickr
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, doorbells and sleighbells, and warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with string, these are few of my favorite things.” Gets you in the Holiday spirit doesn’t it. I have such great memories of watching The Sound of Music with my family at this time of year growing up. Well, here are some Kansas City favorite things to do with the under 5 crowd during the Holiday Season, with a little something for everyone I hope. (Recommendations come from both our family and several other families in the Kindermusik program. If you have others you’d like to share, we’d love to hear them. Just add them in the comments here or on our Facebook page.):
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Holiday Luminary Walk
Dec. 2-3, 5 – 8:30 pm
Now while I can’t say I’ve been to this special walk, the Gardens themselves are lovely, and I have been to similar walks in other states and loved them. Admission $7 per person. Kids 5 and under free.
Journey to Bethlehem at 2nd Presbyterian Church
Friday, Dec. 2, 7-9 pm
Saturday, Dec. 3, 5-7 pm
I have driven past the sign on Brookside Boulevard for years, but only two years ago did our family decide to find out what “Journey to Bethlehem” is all about. I must say I was very impressed with this 45-min walk-through of the story of the birth of Christ. We felt truly immersed in the story as we turned in our “census” to the Roman rulers, “bought” things at the Bethlehem market, and then were led by a shepherd all over Bethlehem to see the exciting events of that first Christmas. As an additional treat, I recently learned to one of our longtime Kindermusik families is involved with their two kiddos as performers each year. My kids loved it. However, I recommend attending well diapered and fed as you may have to stand in line for quite a while. Admission free to all.
A Very Important Christmas Pageant and Birthday Party for Jesus at St. Andrew’s Episcopal
Sunday, Dec. 18 – come see the pageant from 9:15-10 am and stay for a Birthday Party for Jesus
The angel squadron has been gathered. News of peace and joy are to be shared with a young girl named Mary, with shepherds on the hill, and the whole world. And this isn’t just any news. This is the VERY IMPORTANT message announcing the story of the birth of Jesus Christ!
Come watch as the children of St. Andrew’s Sunday School classes present this year’s VERY IMPORTANT Christmas pageant from 9:15-10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, in the undercroft! (After attending St. Andrew’s All Hallow’s Eve Party, the super fun “Boo Bash” last year I would expect this to be a delightful time. Glenda, the Children’s Minister at St. Andrew’s is so lovely and welcoming.)
Dec. 3, 9: o0 am – noon – Fun with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Enjoy a Chris Cakes style pancake breakfast when you come out to meet Old St. Nick. Afterward, make a craft to take home, join Mrs. Claus for storytelling and admire the Victorian display in the conservatory. Then bundle up for a ride on the outdoor mini-train (weather permitting). Reservations are required.
Call for reservations: 816-697-2600 x209 Members age 4 & under $5, Members age 5-12 $6, Members 13 & up $8, Non members age 4 & under $7, Non members age 5-12 $9, Non members age 13 & up $13
Dec. 10-11, 5:30-7 pm - Luminary Walk
Another fabulous garden to check out is Powell Gardens, though it is a bit of a drive, so you might plan to go and stay for a while if possible. Having been to other events they have held in the past, I feel sure their Luminary Walk will be beautiful. Enjoy live holiday music, homemade cookies and hot chocolate by the fireside and a walk along a candlelit path to the peaceful Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel. Admission $7/adults, $6/seniors, $3 children 5-12, children under 5 free, free for members. While you’re at the Gardens, be sure to ride the Trolley (really our favorite part.)
Every year we make a trip during the Holiday season to Union Station to see the enormous 8,000 square foot holiday model railroad exhibit. There is also a fun train ride around a huge Christmas tree at the end of the Grand Hall and special events going on all the time. Admission to the Model Railroad Experience is free. Other charges may apply to special appearances, exhibits, and train rides. (p.s. Memberships are great and can give you some nice discounts if you have a kid who likes Science City, like we do.)
Hope these ideas will help you create a few special family traditions to share for years to come!
Thanksgiving Road Trip – Kindermusik Style
by WishUponACupcake via Creative Commons License/Flickr
Don’t Forget!
There will be no classes the entire week of Thanksgiving, November 21-26.
But just because we’re closed doesn’t mean you can’t take Kindermusik on the Road. We’ve got some perfect ideas for filling the long hours for a trip to Grandma’s. You’d be amazed how much time a Kindermusik CD or two and a few of your favorite activities can fill.
Tips:
- Load up your CD player or iPod/MP3 Player with Kindermusik Favorites.
- Give every activity a try. You might be surprised at which ones appeal on the road. I know I was shocked to find out that those same “Warm-Up Exercises” from the Village class I couldn’t ever get my little guys to sit still for brought peals of laughter when they were restrained in a carseat!
- Don’t be afraid to shout out a little Kindermusik in the airport. People love it, and anyone would much rather see a singing, giggling child than one who is whining or fussing. (Yes, I have been known to break into actual Kindermusik dances while waiting to board a plane. Anything to keep a crying child soothed. Plus, it worked.)
- Remember, everyone gets tired of sitting too long, and adapted fingerplays and movement activities are great for getting the blood flowing as well as raising everyone’s spirits. If you’re in Village, think about trying the “Pig Jig” chant or “Toodala”. Kids from Our Time might get a kick out of “Johnny & Katie”, “The Frog in the Bog” or “All By Myself”. Imagine That! kids might love “Three Blue Pigeons” (as a fingerplay) or even making up silly words with the song “Allee Galloo.” Even circle songs like “All the Day Long” or “Ha, Ha, This A-Way” can be done in the car or on a plane, though it sometimes means stomping into thin air.
- Last but not least, use your favorite lullabies to help soothe your little one to sleep.
With a few songs from class you can turn a long day on the road into a time to build memories and make connections you’ll share together forever.
Look at Me! Look at Me!
“Becoming a careful observer of young children reminds us that what might be ordinary at first glance is actually quite extraordinary. A string of “ordinary” moments for a child becomes like a bead on a necklace, each one unique, though related to the others, combining to create a work of wonder.” – from The Art of Awareness by Deb Curtis and Margie Carter
When you look at your child, what do you see? Perhaps it’s the shiny blue eyes that mirror your own. Maybe it’s that familiar nose or the dark, wavy hair. And maybe you see a budding teacher, artist or musician. But what else do you see?
Every day your child is doing something or saying something that provides a beautiful window into her developing traits and personality. During the preschool years, your child’s wondrous individuality is truly beginning to form.
Christopher was thrilled about the classroom “trip” to the imaginary Grasshopper Park. When the children were asked what animal they saw in the park, the other children responded with bird, squirrel, dog, cat, skunk. Christopher, on the other hand, saw a dinosaur — the same dinosaur he saw on a recent family trip to Science City. And that’s how it goes in class, whether your child is 6 months or 6 years, we want to encourage a lot of individuality, creativity, and personal expression as we work to foster a classroom that truly “follows the child.”
Following the Child is a Montessori concept expressing the idea that children learn best when they are allowed to lead and even direct the learning experience. What does that look like in the classroom?
- A baby claps his hands at the start of class leading the teacher to say “Are you ready to clap hello today, Will?”
- Teachers constantly monitor and choose to extend activities, repeat activities, or move on based on the reactions and inclinations of the children.
- Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids are all given the opportunity to explore and discover how props or instruments might be used on their own. “Look at how Sarah is rolling her sticks on the floor. Sam likes to use his sticks to tap his knees. Eli is making the letter L with his sticks.” The kids ideas are then incorporated into the following activity.
- Older toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids begin to add to stories and songs creating new ideas and verses.
- Movement exploration is often built from the kids’ ideas and extended from there.
And the kids love it. Not only does it mean class often moves in a direction that interests them, but the validation is satisfying. Listen to the rising confidence in your child’s voice as she expresses her opinions during class. Such expression will help her as she begins to pick out different sounds while listening to a song and then describe which sounds she likes and why. Take note of his original thoughts and ideas – and how he relates a concept to a previous learning experience. Then watch his face light up as his idea is utilized in class. Sometimes the teacher even thinks their ideas are important enough to write them down! That must mean his ideas are really special!
Kindermusik allows your child to express his thoughts, actions, and imagination in his own way. There is no right or wrong. By soliciting and incorporating a child’s ideas and feelings into each lesson, we are affirming that their thoughts and ideas are important and worth exploring. Each little success is noticed and celebrated.
And you can “follow the child” at home, too. Now’s the time to “stop, look, and listen” as your child begins to cross the street of independence and individuality. More importantly, you can cross the street with him by taking some steps to help nurture his budding originality. For example:
- Let your baby take the lead as you play peekaboo, determining how long the game goes one, whether you hide or she does. When her interest wanes, let her show you what she wants to play next.
- Listen closely and respond to your toddlers thoughts and ideas – let her lead the way when it comes to navigating around the zoo…or let her make up the rules to the game.
- Encourage the “process” by allowing your preschoolers to “try,” then offer positive reinforcement for his effort.
- Solicit your big kid’s opinions on various subjects – why does she like or dislike a certain song or type of music?
Not only does “following the child” provide greater creativity, independence, and problem solving skills, but it also helps you stop and tune in more fully to all those moments you share together helping you make memories that last a lifetime.
The Green Hour for Little Ones
photo by gemsling used with Creative Commons license via Flickr
Leaves, feathers, rocks, and birds. These themes keep popping up these days in class. That means, it’s time to get outside.
In the last few years, parenting experts and health experts alike have been championing “the green hour” with the recommendation that children get outdoors for an hour each day in order to experience a happier and healthier life. Truly, time outside often provides exercise as well as necessary Vitamin D and helps children and adults sleep better. You can’t beat it. Well, here this week are a 10 fast and fun things to do with your sweet ones out of doors.
1. Go on a nature walk. Kids of all ages adore nature walks. Whether you have a small or large yard, take a walk around the block, or head to a park, there is always something new to discover: blades of grass, sticks and stones, tiny bugs, mud puddles, dewdrops, spider webs, sirens, airplanes, and on and on. Follow your child’s lead as you explore. This week you might especially enjoy exploring leaves – touching them, talking about the colors, and of course crunching them with hands or even more fun, with stomping feet!
2. Start a collection. Find a place in your home to share natural treasures. Toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids especially love bringing bits of the outside in to enjoy, and they never seem to care whether they’ve found flowers or weeds. Pull out a vase, a jar, or a bowl to fill with some of the prizes from your explorations. This time of year you might even go to a pumpkin patch together to gather gourds or pumpkins to decorate your home, but even rocks, twigs, and colorful leaves can make great displays to which your children will be delighted to contribute.
3. Pull out the sidewalk chalk. Use sturdy cardstock or old file folders to make stencils or draw free form. Use the opportunity to talk about shapes, colors, and even letters.
4. Start a leaf fight. As the leaves slowly begin to pile up in your yard, take the opportunity to get outside for plenty of jumping in leaf piles and having good ole leaf throwing fests.
5. Visit a garden. We often forget about gardens this time of year, but Kansas City is full of beautiful gardens with great activities for kids. Two of our favorites include Powell Gardens and the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Powell Gardens has fun scarecrows on display through the end of October. Both gardens also have nature trails if you’d prefer a traditional hike.
6. Plant flowers or herbs. As the seasons change it can be a great time to plant bulbs for spring, mums for fall, or even transplant herbs to bring indoors for cooking. Let your kids help. They love having permission to get dirty and get a chance to learn a little science along the way.
7. Take a trip to an orchard or pumpkin patch. The metro area here is ripe for harvest. Some favorite pumpkin patches with games, rides, food, and even trains include: Carolyn’s Country Cousins, Faulkner’s Pumpkin Farm, or for a more traditional pumpkin patch without all the frills check out Pumpkins Etc.. If you prefer apple cider and apple doughnuts alongside or instead of your pumpkin picking check out Weston Red Barn Farm, Louisburg Cider Mill, or Schweizer Orchards.
8. Put out birdseed. Whether you simply sprinkle a bit of seed on your deck or build your own bird feeder, sharing some seed guarantees you’ll have birds (and perhaps a few squirrels) come to visit your yard. Be sure to set food near a window where you can see and enjoy the show! When the birds stop by for a visit, talk about their colors, different bird songs, and what they might do or eat. You could even draw some pictures or sing some of your favorite bird (and even squirrel) songs from Kindermusik.
9. Go see the animals. Perhaps you caught a glimpse of some of your favorite farm animals when you were at the orchards or pumpkin patches, but if not, you might think about taking a trip to Deanna Rose Farmstead or even the Zoo. And if you’re taking a baby along, be sure to look up some of your favorite animal signs with this handy online video dictionary before you head out. Animals are always great motivators for teaching babies to sign!
10. Watch the clouds. We all need to stop and rest and just soak it in for a bit. What better way than to look for cloud shapes with your cuties. While preschoolers and big kids are more likely to help you pick out shapes and pictures, even babies and toddlers might sit for a minute and rest with you and talk about the sun and the sky and the clouds.
So, get out and enjoy this amazing weather. Whether you use one or ten of these ideas, you’re sure to make memories that last a lifetime!
Leaves and Tickles for Lunch
photo by simonnjulia used by Creative Commons license via Flickr
I was quietly reading my new book when I was attacked. A handful of leaves was suddenly thrust in my face followed by tons of giggles. Up goes the book. Up comes tired mom, and I’m off for a leaf-throwing tickle-fest with my three year old. It was utterly unproductive in the midst of what needed to be a productive day. It was utterly unplanned in a week full of dates and clocks and schedules. And it was exactly what we both needed. Tickles and leaves postponed our lunch as we soaked up the sun. It was perfect. And I thought, “Wow. I should find a way to do this everyday.”
I’ve read a lot of parenting books emphasizing the importance of giving your child presence in an activity. Taking time to spend a moment together with your child when they have 100% of your attention can greatly improve behavior, aid in development, enhance that all important bonding. But the truth is, it just feels good. Somehow to me it always feels like one of those moments when time stands still because you’re absolutely head over heels in love with the little person in your life. Who doesn’t love that feeling? So, I made a decision today to find a way to make space for these moments every day. I know it will happen when I carve out some time to do a little bit of nothing together. No agenda. No aims to get in as much good for your brain activities as possible. No distractions like phones or the internet or the TV. No demands for a snack or a nap. Just a few minutes to just be 100% together.
How ’bout it? Got a minute to try it now. I know that’s where I’m headed. See you after my next leaf fight.
Using Hugs to Keep Us Healthy
Want to keep your child healthy and happy? Bring on the hugs! And set aside time for lots of loving touch in the form of backrubs, snuggles, and out and out massage.
Research suggests that touch is as important to your child’s growth as are eating and sleeping. In fact, babies who are not touched at all typically do not grow at a normal pace. Touch is of utmost importance to your child’s well-being.
Creating a Bond
One beautiful way to create special bonding is through loving touch, which can be experienced in a variety of ways. Just think of all the time that you were brought closer to a friend or a loved one with close eye contact and a gentle touch, whether it was a hug, an arm around the shoulder, or even just holding hands. That’s because hugs create oxytocin, sometimes called “the bonding hormone”. Oxytocin is a hormone that produces a feeling of calm and comfort in addition to promoting feelings of security and trust in a relationship. Sharing in gentle massage, rubbing backs, or rocking together can this effect. Through the eye contact, skin contact, and speech or song associated with these loving touches, both you and your child can achieve a state of relaxation and calm. And the bond between you can be nurtured. “Touch is your [child’s] first language. Through the nurturing touch of massage, you communicate deep love and respect to your child in a language he or she understands well.” - Nurturing Touch, by Kalena Babeshoff, C.M.T. and Juliana Dellinger-Belovek, M.S.E., p. 17.
Physical Benefits of Intentional Touch
In addition to facilitating emotional bonding, loving touch has many physical benefits. The skin is the largest organ of the body and has all sorts of nerve sensors for touch making the effects of touch very far reaching. Massage experts and researchers report that massage:
- encourages relaxation and lowers stress hormone levels (cortisol), heart rate, and blood pressure;
- produces significantly better growth rate (up to 47% higher for pre-term babies);
- improves circulation;
- strengthens the immune system and increases the number of white blood cells;
- builds muscle tone;
- reduces stress responses and levels of pain in painful procedures including vaccines;
- reduces pain associated with teething and constipation;
- reduces colic;
- helps induce sleep;
- improves allergies in the form of atopic dermatitis;
- helps improve the symptoms of ADHD and autism;
- keeps blood sugar levels in check;
- is valuable for children of all ages.
Cognitive Benefits of Loving Touch
Loving Touch builds a better brain. Whenever your child is touched in a loving way, Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a hormone in the brain, is produced causing more development of nerve nests in the nervous system. Intentional touch also promotes nerve myelination, making for better mind to body communication. Massage of the back provides stimulation to an area that is vitally important to child development. As the back is stimulated, it stimulates the growth of nerves all over the body. (Carla Hannaford, interview with Kindermusik International Creative Team, Tape Recording, BrownsSummit, NC, 18 Jan 2000) Even more interesting, massage not only improves cognitive development but also cognitive performance. One study showed that children performed better on a series of cognitive tests after just 15 minutes of massage as compared with their peers.
Touch in Class
Kindermusik feels so strongly about the importance of touch on the development of your child, that we’ve made a point to include it in class. That’s because loving touch benefits everyone, no matter how old you are.
- Touch for Babies: The warm-up activities and gentle massage at the beginning of each Village class as well as the rocking time or quiet time later in class can all include loving touch. Scientific research tells us that this time of loving touch stimulates the regulation of healthy levels of a stress hormone in Baby’s brain. In Kindermusik Village, intentional touch activities also provide the opportunity to watch others for new ideas of ways to participate. In class, Baby may not always be comfortable with this activity. If this is the case, find other ways to interact during this time such as bouncing with a steady beat or walking slowly together to the music. Then consider trying to incorporate loving touch activities at home when Baby is not distracted by the classroom environment.
- Touch for Toddlers and Big Kids: For toddlers in Our Time, we include rocking time each week in class, which also makes a perfect moment for snuggles, backrubs, and even a little gentle massage. But the space we make for touch doesn’t end there, even in the big kid classes, you’ll find time for partner activities with lots of high fives, tickles, hugs, and eye contact, circle dances with holding hands, and even the occasional rocking time. It’s a great reminder that any touch, no matter how small is beneficial.
Intentional Touch Everyday
Loving touch can easily become part of your everyday routine with your child.
Some tips for loving touch:
- Set the mood for massage by playing your Home CD or other quiet music.
- Set aside a small area for massage. Put a blanket on the floor and have lots of pillows so you are comfortable, too.
- Make it a ritual to practice massage every night before bed or after a bath. The soothing effects will be good for both of you.
- Consistency will promote a stronger sense of enjoyment and fulfillment.
- The bond between a child and a caregiver is be strengthened through intentional touch, so allow different caregivers to take part in the sessions.
- Remember to massage different parts of your child’s body – backs, feet, legs, arms. For babies the practice of making an “M” or heart shape on Baby’s chest while massaging is especially soothing.
- Accompany intentional touch with quiet singing or humming.
- Give hugs and lots of them.
- Enjoy toe tickles, partner songs and games, and circle dances holding hands.
- Snuggle.
To read more about the benefits of touch, check out these great websites:
http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/ChildMassage.html
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/05/touching.makes.you.healthier.health/index.html
Classes
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