Write 5 sentences you can use when speaking with parents about musical responses of children in SM 2.

[Meredith Pizzi]

[Megan Goddu]

It’s ok if it seems like your child isn’t doing anything right now, they may just in standing there, but see how he is looking around…he is taking it all in. When he is ready, he will join in. Your child seems to be extra wiggly today, why not try turning her around so she is leaning against you? It’s ok if the instrument goes in his mouth. We are a “clean me” bin for dirty instruments. When we use our bodies, we want to help your child organize their bodies, not disorganized them. Don’t be afraid to make sure their feet land fully on the ground; that helps your child to feel grounded. If your child doesn’t want to be picked up that is okay, why not see if they want to march on the side of you or in front?

[Emily Seymour]

Children in this class enjoy free movement and may wander in and out of the circle during music time.  They have a faster internal rhythm and move their entire body in response to music.  At this stage, they will be looking to share musical experiences with an adult rather than a peer.  These children recognize songs and anticipate what’s coming next in a familiar structure.  These children babble with melodic intonation, but often choose to showcase their skills during the car ride home or play time instead of in class.

[Kristen Macleod]

1) It’s okay if your child wants to either sit facing you or facing outward. We want them to see everything that is going on! 2) Children are exploring the instrument when they have it in their mouth. This is just part of their musical development and you don’t need to worry because all instruments are cleaned between sessions. 3) Your child can move around during the session. We encourage freedom of movement as this is their way of becoming independent. 4) It’s okay for your child to come over and explore my guitar. They are moving towards independence in their musical development. 5)  your child is recognizing the song – see they are anticipating what is coming next!

[Anonymous]

1.  It is important to allow our children the ability to explore their independence and allow them to choose which direction they want to sit in.

2.  Children, at this age, are still exploring and learning how to manipulate objects.  So, we may be seeing them putting objects in their mouth, dropping them on the floor, and playing them intermittently.

3.  The children may appear to be just sitting or standing there, but at this stage they are absorbing everything around them.

4.  Feel free to allow your child to move around and outside of the circle.

5.  You may begin to hear your child matching what we are singing.

[Lauren Bevilacqua]

1. It’s okay if your child isn’t singing right away. We know they are observing and absorbing the information.
2. Face your baby both towards you and out towards the group to face his/her peers.
3. Your child is free to move around the room. Its normal to want to explore the environment and here it is safe to do so.
4. By exploring the environment, your child isn’t rejecting you, the music, or the group.  They are exercising independence within the group. This is great!
5. Its not about playing a specific way, its about having musical choices and connection with the music.
 

[Michelle Muth]

1. I know they keep dropping the maraca, this is new for them and they are just developing the ability to grasp.  Try to notice how the music might be triggering the grasping or letting go.

2. If you are getting bored with repeating the song, do it 10 more times!  Repetition is something these children crave and need. It provide a secure foundation.

3. Use the music when you are out in the world to calm your child if needed.  After all the repetition if they are stressed and you both start singing a known song, it can calm you both down.

4. Let them walk around the room.  It is their time to explore but they need to know that you are their “home base” they need the security of knowing you are there for them to return.

5. He make look like he is doing nothing by simply standing while the music is going, but he is doing observing absolutely everything and taking it in and processing.  I expect you will start to hear some of this music at home or in the car.  This is all part of the development process.

 

[Michelle Muth]

Great responses!

[Lisa Klostermann]

Let your baby explore and make their own musical choices. It’s not really about playing “up high”!

It’s ok for your baby to “just watch”.  They learn by watching you (do the movements).

Yes, it really is ok for Ali to play the guitar with me.  (She’s exploring and learning!)

At this age your little one loves surprises – as long as she knows it is coming!

Feet are a great way to get a lot of sensory input (and the “beat”) into our bodies. Just make sure you’re getting the bottoms of their feet on the floor and not just the heels.

[Vanessa Talbott]

1. Your toddler is not expected to stay in your lap the entire time, find ways to interact with your toddler if he decides to explore the room. 2. I encourage creativity, it is ok if your child is not doing what everyone else is doing. 3. I accept your child for who they are, a unique individual who is allowed to make choices and have options. 4. Help your child to organize her body by having her feet on the floor during our lap ride. 5. Children learn by watching, it is important as parents that we model different ways to move our bodies and play instruments to encourage learning in our children. 6. I invite you to experience music through the eyes of your child and have fun!

[Jillian Brown]

1. Your child is taking in a lot of information just by watching us and the other children. If they are not actively participating at this point it is okay! A lot of learning is being done just by watching right now.

2. It may seem like we’re repeating the melody a lot but children at this age need repetition. It helps them learn and become comfortable with the music.

3. Even if it seems like your child is not giving his/her full attention to the group or to the music it is okay. It is a good thing for your child to be able to explore, take things in and make choices at this age.

4. I encourage you to use this music outside of the classes. Using the songs outside of class encourages the continuation of learning in addition to helping you and your child get to know the music.

5. Your child is not too young to play a musical instrument. He/she may not be able to play along to the beat at this age but he/she is still doing a lot of learning by engaging in instrument play and watching others.

[Carla Carnegie]

1) your baby needs lots of sensory input, so it’s great you are helping him jump up and down in your lap.  Just make sure upon landing his feet actually touch the ground.  this helps give him the sense of “grounding”. You can also  just tap the bottoms of your baby’s feet to offer that sensory input.
2) It’s ok if your baby wants to hold many instruments at once.  He may or may not want to be picked up to do a musical activity.  He my pick up an instrument and drop it several times to do something else.  It’s ok to move in and out of a musical activity, or just stand still.  He is taking it all in and processing just the same.
 3) your baby is  fine exploring, then coming back to “home base.”  He is forming that sense of self, so there is a lot of back and forth, this is normal, and we welcome it here.

4)It may seem your baby wants to put everything in his mouth—-don’t worry, that is how he is learning about his world and processes. This is the beginning of playing an instrument.  That is why we have a “Wash Me” basket to put instruments in afterwards.  These are cleaned after every session.

5)hand clapping can be assisted this way: put your arms underneath your baby’s arms while holding him on your lap facing outwards.  His hands will be on the outside of your hands as you clap.  This way, your baby can feel the rhythm through your hands, and imitate

 

 

[Courtney Fanello]

Your child is making musical choices all the time, to move or not, to sing, or play, or just watch. They are free to explore around the room and to touch all of the instruments. Sometimes they will want to put them in their mouth, step on them, or throw them. This is typical, but we still try to teach and redirect to appropriate behavior. Using these songs and music in your everyday life will give you a great activity to do with your child, and will also help familiarize them with the music and know what to expect. These songs are a great way to give your child structure in their day and let them know what is coming next.

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