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Kindermusik and Kinderlanguage

Movement and Music: The Keys to Learning

By Anne Greene Gilbert
Submitted by Cynthia Zettlemoyer

Most educators of young children recognize the value of movement and music, but it may be hard to imagine teaching dance and music to an infant! However, there is nothing more natural or more important. A baby’s first communication is through movement. A toddler will respond immediately to lively music with what seems to be humorous gyrations, but to her are quite serious attempts to coordinate movement with rhythmic patterns. The young child seems to be moving constantly--leaping off couches, rolling down hills, and spinning around and around until she falls down in a giggling flop on the floor.

Movement is the 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. The nervous system of each new human being must go through a series of developmental stages before the brain can operate at its full potential. A baby “programs” her motor and perceptual equipment, nerves and brain cells by using her whole body and all her senses.This process, called “nenurological organization”, describes the evolution of the central nervous system between birth and 6-8 years. By 12 months, many children are performing tasks that will lead to adult skill development, namely walking and talking. Already, by this young age, the brain has learned 50% of everything it will ever know!

The newborn infant is well on the way to developing an organized central nervous system. What may appear as random arm and leg squiggling will soon turn into a more organized pattern. By 2-1/2 to 7 months of age, most babies will begin to organize this movement to help them travel away from and to a noise or object. This early belly crawling will evolve into more mobile crawling and Baby will develop horizontal eye tracking that will later contribute to reading skills. The vestibular system, which helps to orient us in space and aid with balance, is being developed through rolling, rocking, turning and swinging movements. Baby is putting together a sensory and motor world that lays the foundation for the next stage of creeping.

Sometime between 7 months and one year of age, Baby puts distance between herself and the floor by pushing up onto her hands and knees. Now balance must be refined. The curvy little baby legs begin to become aligned with hip sockets and feet in preparation for standing. Vertical eye tracking is part of the growth triggered by creeping on hands and knees. The convergence of vertical and horizontal eye tracking is a skill essential for reading and writing.

While these observable changes are taking place, countless other neurological tasks are being stimulated and organized through movement during this period of creeping. Detailed perception and focusing, body temperature and waking and sleeping cycles, suppression of newborn reflexes, and the emergence of a more mature human being begin to occur. If babies do not have the opportunity to crawl, creep, rock, turn, stretch, clasp, babble and do many more movements such as these, little gaps in their development may begin to appear in the years ahead.

Movement is fundamental for the development of the central nervous system, but movement and rhythm are also essential for the development of the soul. When a parent moves with her infant, a special bonding takes place that is extremely important for social and emotional growth. When a parent sings to her infant, not only are language skills being developed, but also a sense of love, comfort and harmony. The special touching, laughing and rhythmic moving that takes place in an infant music and movement class lays a very strong and much needed foundation for a happy, healthy and joyful life!

What is Kindermusik?

Kindermusik is one thoughtful choice for seven magnificent musical years. The Kindermusik curricula represent the highest quality in educationl, musical and artistic content all based on the latest early childhood development research. Each program introduces your child to the adventure of music, then moves at his pace, pausing to engage his interests, nurture his gifts and celebrate his discoveries. Kindermusik involves you in each step of your child’s musical learning and gives you and him the time and tools to bring the power of music into your home and into his life forever.

The Kindermusik curricula include: Kindermusik Village: Ages Newborn to 1-1/2 years. Village provides the natural learning your child is ready for from the first days of life. With you at the center of his discovery, Village engages all of your baby’s senses and rewards her curiosity with object and instrument exploration, singing, creative movement and colorful, engaging books from the Kindermusik LibraryTM. Lap babies, crawlers and walkers participate at their own level as they explore the world around them through music and movement.

Author, Anne Green Gilbert, is a Kindermusik Consultant. Cynthia K. Zettlemoyer, B.M.Ed., M.D. Ed., Boston Conservatory of Music; Early Childhood Music Specialist and Licensed Kindermusik Instructor. She is currently the Director of Kids U Musikschule in Emmaus, PA. For more information, call 610-965-2393 or visit the website: www.kidsumusic.com.