Nothing brightens up family time like music. Whether you’re mixing pancakes on a Saturday morning or winding down for bedtime, children will always delight in sharing music with their parents and loved ones.
Music is a terrific teaching tool, too. According to Elizabeth Pearson, a literacy and music expert, there are many “natural connections between lyrics and literacy. Lyrics are the words in music, and if you take lyrics of your favorite songs and recite them, you have poetry. Most lyrics also often tell a story. In many cases a song is a form of storytelling.” Music also teaches children about rhyme, an important part of learning to read.
Spending time with your children singing funny songs and nursery rhymes, learning the words to traditional folksongs from around the world, and even practicing different versions of the ABCs can become a real learning experience. Preschool music is one of the building blocks of preschool early literacy.
Try HOMER‘s “One Two Buckle My Shoe” to reinforce your child’s knowledge of numbers, or HOMER’s original ABC song to strengthen your child’s print knowledge. The catchy tunes of “Old Dan Tucker” and the Australian favorite, “Waltzing Matilda” will have your child learning and practicing important early literacy skills.
What does your child like to sing and how do you encourage learning through music in your home? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
