How to Teach Kids with Music and Movement

Young children learn best if music and movement are incorporated. You don't have to be a professional musician or dancer to get started.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Sing! Find some learning songs. If you do an Internet search for "learning songs" you'll find lots of resources. You don't need to buy any music, simply find some rhymes and make up a tune!

2. Add whole-body movement. Use your rhymes or songs and add in some movement. Make up some gestures with your hands, fingers or whole body. Children love this!

3. Learn some finger plays. Search the Internet for these. There are so many to choose from and older kids like them too, not just the preschool set.

4. Find some instruments. You don't have to buy them, make them. This adds to the fun. There are lots of easy-to-make instruments, for instance, take an old container with a lid, add dried beans, and voila! you have you own maraca.

5. Exercise. Do simple exercise movements if you don't want to dance. Songs like "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" are fun to exercise to.

6. Be silly! Make up your own movements, exercises or finger plays. Kids enjoy making them up and being creative as much as they do performing them! This adds a whole new dimension to the learning as well.Most of all, enjoy! Learning through music and movement is fun!

Tips & Warnings

• When using movement with young children, try to incorporate all types of movement. From top to bottom, turning and moving across the midline. Using all movement and the whole body assists the brain for optimal learning!

Resources

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.