OUR TIME: FIDDLE-DEE-DEE Week 1

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

ACTIVE LISTENING: Active listening differs from hearing in that it is an intentional act. While we are surrounded by sounds in our everyday life, we choose whether or no to listen and process the sounds we hear. Active Listening activities allow children the opportunity to learn to listen intentionally.

BENEFITS OF ROLLING: Most everyday locomotor movements of children, such as walking, running and crawling, involve the use of the arms and/or legs. Rolling, however, is initiated from the center of the body, with the body being propelled in a prone state by the hips and torso. Rolling is also unique in that it allows the child (or adult!) to experience the sensation of seeing the world from his stomach and back all in one continuous movement. This provides good stimulation for the vestibular system, which is important in many ways to a child’s development, especially for his sense of balance and orientation in space.

MOVEMENT & LEARNING: Movement is key to learning! Our brains fully develop through movement activities such as crawling, rolling, turning, walking, skipping, reaching, swinging, and much more. The brain has a plan for development that involves specific and intensive motor activities to make full use of our complicated nervous system.

LITERACY: Reading picture books together with adults helps children internalize some skills that are crucial in the development of true literacy. Reading together fosters reading enjoyment, provides predictability through repetition, introduces new vocabulary, expands understanding of story structures, promotes critical thinking, and encourages language play and creative expression. Music and movement story time also encourages musical development through tonal, rhythm, and movement play.

FIDDLE-DEE-DEE AT HOME: Circle songs are a great way to share Kindermusik with the rest of the family. Check your home activity book for lyrics and musical scores.