VILLAGE: Dream Pillow Week 4

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

Vocal Play: Each of us was born with our very own musical instrument and our very own way of playing it. The voice is as musical as any orchestral instrument, and arguably more powerful, because it conveys our identity to others. The focus of lessons 4 & 5 is to become more appreciative of the expressive power of the voice, and also more aware of the joy of singing and speaking expressively. This is done through playful vocal explorations and lots of singing. As each adult shares her joy singing and speaking with her baby, her baby is led to discover the pleasures of her own vocal gifts, learning new ways to communicate and express herself.

One More Time: One method of learning for young children is repetition. Repetition of experience provides stabilization of the brain’s neural pathways.

Steady Beat: Relaxation is a learned behaviour. Setting aside this time each week not to be engaged in an active, thinking activity helps your baby learn to enjoy quiet play and learn that relaxation can include times other than nap time and bedtime.

Listening to Language: Your baby is learning more than she can say as she watches and listens to you reciting “Let’s Go the Woods”. Infants younger than six months can distinguish a wide range of speech contrasts. By eight months, many can distinguish familiar words from unfamiliar words.

I Feel; Therefore, I Learn: Your baby must be emotionally involved in an activity to learn. Incoming sensory stimulation is processed first through the brain’s non-rational, non-conscious limbic system, the seat of emotion, and only then goes to the neocortex, or rational brain.