When my son was very young he spent Wednesdays with his grandparents. There was always music playing in the house. Sometimes it would be Sinatra, other times opera. My young maestro would dance around the living room with his grandmother. His favorite was to conduct the orchestra with his magic wand. There was such joy on both of their faces. They were connecting with each other and feeling the music emotionally and physically.
Watching both young and old relate to music only reinforced the important place music and movement play in our lives. As an educator, it was always a crucial part of my preschool curriculum. Music, like reading, stimulates imagination. Young minds and bodies, in particular, are nourished and inspired when exposed to music.
I ballroom dance , the music rocks my world. It can change my mood within the first few measures of the song. It is a wonderful way to express myself. I can’t begin to tell you the pure joy I feel dancing around the studio to beautiful music.
We are born with music in our souls. Encourage your child to dance and sing. Join in, embrace it and enjoy!
Benefits of Music and Movement
- Stimulates neural pathways in the brain.
- Improves small and large motor movement.
- Reinforces body awareness.
- Improves balance.
- Enhances listening skills.
- Introduces rhyming words which is a precursor to reading.
- Introduces new vocabulary, positional words.
The most important reason to include Music and Movement in your life is because it is so fun and rewarding!
Does your child have a favorite song? Is there one ‘go-to’ song in your house or car that inspires your child to dance or sing?
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