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Parenting and Sports ArticlesPreschool Music and Movement
The Benefits of a Toddler/Preschool Music Program
The early childhood years are the important years when it comes to musical development. Children who play or sing music regularly perform better in reading and math when they begin elementary school.
Since playing, singing and dancing to music increases both fine and gross motor skills and helps develop hand-eye coordination, these children are better able to control their bodies. Those actively involved in music also tend to have high self-esteem and are better at playing with others.
It is, therefore, important for child care providers and preschool teachers to provide an environment rich with music and movement, to allow for the exploration of musical equipment, and to engage in plenty of diverse, stimulating musical activities.
Organizations such as the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association and MENC, The National Association for Music Education, recommend ways to encourage music development in infants and toddlers. Child care providers and preschool teachers can engage in activities that involve singing and chanting songs and rhymes that involve a variety of meters and tones.
Music for infants and toddlers should also incorporate a variety of sound
sources, and include selected music, as well as improvised songs. Musical
choices should vary and include a wide range of culture and styles. MENC also
suggests that child care providers and teachers can encourage music development
in young children by exposing them to both live and recorded
music.
Yoga has health benefits for kids
Little Yogis enjoy better posture, concentration
By Megha SatyanarayanaWhen Alyana Kurek panicked one day about forgotten homework, the 9 year old stunned her school counselor by using a yoga breathing technique to calm down.
That stress-relief method is a reason Sherri Kurek said she takes her two children, Alayna and Olivia, 7, to classes for kids at the Yoga Studio.( )
Alayna gets exercise, going from downward-facing dog position to cobra to frog. And her improved confidence show when she teaches her classmates how to pretzel up, Kurek said. ()
University of Michigan pediatrician Dolores Mendelow says yoga, if done properly, is a suitable alternative to tumbling and team sports for getting stressed-out, sedentary children socializing, exercising and building discipline. "It requires practice, patience and accepting of self-limitations," she said.
Second-grader Mya Sornig, 8 practiced a new sun salutation ( ). "Lift your left toe like you're warming your toes in the sun." Mya pushed her left leg into the aira, and wobbled, which mom Jennifer Sornig said is a reason to trek to the studio. A physical therapist, she knows a strong abdomen can stave off back and posture problems.
Better Breathing
A preliminary study of pediatric health benefits of yoga, published in 2008, finds motor skills and concentration improvements, on top of better posture and breathing. "The younger kids with most yoga poses, we try to find a name that relates to the pose to make it fun," she said.Yoga stretching and body alignment can create a better athlete, said Michigan State University strength coach Mike vorkapich. Players use Players use back and arm movements to improve strokes and pitches, he said.
Listening improves too, said Jennifer Hayes, an MSU yoga teacher. She sometimes teaches without demonstrating postures. She hears this all the time: "Wow, this is harder than I thought."