As children five years old and up return to their classrooms this August, what do you do when your child is too young for school? While these babies aren’t quite old enough for the formal instruction of kindergarten, they are still learning all day every day! Children are constantly getting to know the world around them through play, experimentation, and watching the grownups they love. Music Together® classes mirror this context with music. This can help your child develop musical skills and tastes right from the start. It doesn’t stop there, though. Babies can learn so much more!
Sharing and Cooperation
Instruments are a key part of Music Together class. To start the activity, the teacher will often place all of the instruments in the middle of a room for children to choose the one they like. But, what happens when two babies go for the same egg shaker? They could get upset, or they could get real life practice in how to take turns and share with one another (with guidance from their grownups, of course). Getting this kind of practice with social interaction before school sets children up for success. They will make friends easier and have a better chance at success!
Pattern Recognition
It’s no surprise that patterns are everywhere in music, and honing those pattern recognition skills is a key part of growing up. When babies can “fill in the blank” during a song activity, they’re learning how to draw conclusions and react to the world around them in ways that make sense. There are plenty of opportunities to do this in class! Whether they sing, dance, clap, or coo, you’ll find your baby following along naturally. As babies watch their grownup interacting with these musical patterns, they will usually follow suit! This also means that children have plenty of practice as patterns get longer and more complex later in life.
Following a Model
While Music Together classes are pretty free-form for the little ones, it’s up to the grownups in the room to follow the teacher. The teacher claps, the grownups clap! The teacher stands, the grownups stand. Babies see this physical call-and-response and learn how to recognize the leader in a group and how to mimic what others do. This comes in handy while they learn to walk and talk, and eventually when they learn to write, dance, and ride a bike! While it’s not required, children will often follow along in the activity of their own free will because their grown up is doing it, they recognize the pattern, and they want to be a part of the group.
Pre-school Before Pre-school
So, while children younger than five have to wait for formal school, that doesn’t mean they aren’t learning valuable skills every day. In the relaxed, family-style atmosphere of Music Together classes, moms, dads, and caregivers can take that natural learning to a whole new level– with music! Children develop musical skills, social skills, and a stronger bond with their caregivers all while having a ton of fun.
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