MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS
If you’re looking for fun and stimulating activities to keep your preschooler entertained and engaged, look no further. These music and movement activities for preschoolers are perfect for young learners. They’ll have a blast dancing, singing, and playing instruments. Plus, they’ll develop important skills like gross motor skills, locomotor skills, coordination, and teamwork.
WHAT ARE MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS?
These are activities that can help improve their gross motor skills, coordination, and even math and literacy skills by getting children learning and moving to music.
Research has shown that when you add movement when learning academic material, it can help children understand and retain the concepts.
WHY ARE MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES BENEFICIAL FOR PRESCHOOLERS?
There are many benefits to incorporating music and movement activities into your preschooler’s day such as:
- gross motor skill development
- rhythmic movements
- eye hand coordination skills
- muscle strengthening – playing instruments helps to build endurance in the arms, hands and fingers.
- social skills practice when they make music with their friends
- self regulation skills – children to stop and start the music and movement at the right time which requires impulse control.
- body awareness
- motor planning
- cardioaerobic exercise and more!
Movement Songs
HOW DO MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES HELP PRESCHOOLERS WITH SOCIAL SKILLS?
Through these activities, preschoolers will develop social skills. They’ll learn how to work together as a team and take turns. They’ll also learn the importance of sharing and cooperating with others. Games like Ring Around the Rosey encourage cooperation and fun!
These musical activities also help preschoolers develop self-regulation skills. These activities can teach them how to control their bodies and movements, stop and start, stay focused and remain on task. Additionally, they can learn how to take turns and share materials.
HOW DO MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES HELP PRESCHOOLERS WITH PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT?
Gross Motor Skills
Kids will use their large muscles to move their bodies to do actions such as squatting, spinning, jumping, and marching. This is important for developing strength, coordination, and balance.
Fine Motor Skills
Get those hands and fingers moving! Musical activities require kids to use the small muscles in their fingers to play instruments and manipulate objects. This is important for developing dexterity and hand-eye coordination. All skills that are necessary for handwriting.
Directionality
Music and movement activities also help preschoolers develop directionality and visual-spatial skills. These activities require them to move their bodies in different directions ie left, right, forward, backward, high, low, around, under, etc. This is important for developing spatial awareness and body control.
Motor Planning
Challenge your preschoolers’ motor planning with musical fun. They will have to listen to directions, plan, and execute movements. This is important for developing coordination and control.
Mini Movement Breaks
HOW DO MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS HELP WITH ACADEMIC SKILLS?
Language Skills
Preschoolers will learn new words and concepts. They’ll hear and use new vocabulary words and learn about different concepts such as tempo and rhythm. Additionally, they’ll have a chance to practice new words and phrases.
Math Skills
Music and movement activities can also help preschoolers develop math skills. They’ll have a chance to count beats, identify patterns, and compare durations. Additionally, depending upon the songs, they may even learn about numbers and shapes.
Literacy Skills
Music and movement activities can also help preschoolers develop literacy skills. They’ll have a chance to identify words, follow directions, and develop listening skills.
WHAT OTHER SKILLS CAN PRESCHOOLERS LEARN FROM MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES?
Creativity
Music and movement activities provide an opportunity for preschoolers to be creative. They’ll have a chance to experiment with different sounds, rhythms, and tempos.. They can also create their own dances and songs.
Listening Skills
They’ll need to listen carefully to the music, directions, and their classmates. This is important for following directions and staying on task which are critical skills for academic success.
WHAT DO I NEED FOR MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS?
There are a few things you’ll need to get started with music and movement activities for preschoolers. First, you’ll need some music. You can use kids’ songs, nursery rhymes, or even instrumental music. Next, gather up some props that your child can use to dance and move around. This could include silk scarves, balls, ribbons, or bean bags. Finally, make sure you have enough space for your child to move around freely. Outside works great too! Grab a speaker and head outdoors.
HOW TO GET STARTED WITH MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Once you have everything you need, start by playing some music and dancing along with the children. Encourage them to move their bodies however they want. Introduce some props and demonstrate how to use them. Start with simple instructions and let the children explore. Music activities are fun!
SINGING ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS
One of the best ways to get started with music and movement activities for preschoolers is to sing along with them. This is a great way to introduce new vocabulary words and concepts, and different types of music. Here are some singing activities for preschoolers:
- Pick a favorite nursery rhyme or kids’ song and sing it together while acting out the story
- Make up your own words to a familiar tune, and emphasize the new words with your mouth
- Clapping and singing along to action songs like the “Hokey Pokey” or “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes”.
- Act out the words to a song as you sing them.
DANCING ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Dancing is another great way to get your child moving. It’s also a lot of fun! Here are some dancing activities for preschoolers:
- Turn on some music and dance around the room together.
- Make up your own dance moves.
- Play some instruments and dance along to the music.
- Pretend to march in a parade with band music.
- Play freeze dance. Dance when the music is playing. Pause the music and everyone has to freeze.
- Play reverse freeze dance. Freeze when the music is playing and dance when it is silent (very challenging for self-regulation skills).
- Use props such as silk scarves, balls, or ribbons and dance with them.
- Play hot potato but you have to dance while you are passing the ball.
Animal Actions A to Z
PLAYING INSTRUMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Playing instruments is a great way to get your child moving and making music. It’s also a lot of fun! Here are some playing instrument activities for preschoolers:
- Play some drums along with the music, or use body percussion. Recycled coffee cans make great homemade drums.
- Shake some maracas, tambourines, or shakers. Try putting rice inside two paper plates stapled together to make a homemade shaker.
- Ring some bells.
- Play some simple melodies on a xylophone or other instrument.
- Use everything in the kitchen like spoons, pots, and pans as instruments.
OTHER MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Need more ideas? Try some of these suggestions:
- Make Some Noise: Get your child to make loud and soft noises, and emphasize the different efforts it takes in breathing for both.
- Have a Parade: Encourage your child to march around the room with props such as scarves, balls, or ribbons.
- Make a Music Video: Dance and move around to your child’s favorite song. Record it and watch it back together.
- Turn up the music, add bubbles and start dancing and popping the bubbles!
- Explore YouTube – there are thousands of music and movement activities for preschoolers.
- Try coloring to music – when the music is quiet color softly and when it is load press harder with the crayon. Turn on peppy music and draw short lines and when slow, low tone music plays draw thick lines.
Have fun with these music and movement activities for preschoolers! Remember to experiment and have fun. There are no rules, just let the children explore and learn. Music and movement activities are a great way to promote learning and motor development in young children.
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