AuntyB and Grandmama

Song and Dance: Music with Toddlers

AuntyB: If "sing!" is included in some of your toddler's first words, you know that music has made an impact from infancy. Songs are like toasted marshmallows over an open fire. They are comforting, personal, satisfying and sweet. Sing to your unborn child, sing to your infant, sing to your toddler. It is an endearing experience that introduces music to your child.

Music is both thrilling and exciting, serene and restful. It is another world that gives variety and fullness to life. Singing is the starting place. If you don't know any songs, find a toddler teacher and learn their circle time songs and motions.

Create your own circle time, car time or outdoor time daily where you sing with your child the same circle time songs. Have fun! In sharing this time (ten songs, at least), you have made a lifetime of memories for your child.

Gradually, sing at other times. Add songs that are your favorites: Gospel, Western, Rock and Roll, Folk.  Sung over and over daily, the child will sing with you and request them. (Of course, don't forget the going-to-sleep lullabies.)

Examples of Circle Time Songs:

• Here We are Together
• Itsy Bitsy Spider
• Hickory Dickory Dock
• I'm a Little Teapot
• Ten Little Indian Boys and Girls
• The Farmer in the Dell
• The Wheels on the Bus
• Mary had a Little Lamb
• Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
• Open, Shut Them

Some of my favorite "other" songs are:

Art Projects with Toddlers

AuntyB: During the last post, I spoke a little of my philosophy of art and drawing. Art is not limited to three crayons and a piece of paper. Here are several more suggestions. Others will occur to you as you and your child try out different media.

• Clay work is another table media. Demonstration of rolling to make balls and snakes is fun. They may experiment on their own from there. A blunt edged plastic knife is fun to cut up the clay. Note: fun!
• Prepainting skills can be done outdoors with a three-inch paintbrush and a bucket of water. Toddlers can "paint" walls, outdoor furniture and ride-on toys with paintbrush and water. Remember, it is the process that they love.
• Bubbles!  Try a plastic flyswatter with a shallow bin of soap solution. These are easy to dip, wave and create bubbles. It is fun,too. Art should be a happy experience that gives expression to the body's discovery to tactile capabilities.

Art in Your Toddler's Environment

AuntyB: Art brings richness to your child's day. Purely tactile learning at this age, they experience feel of the media and develop eye/hand coordination. The wonders of the process are intriguing.

Be sure to closely supervise your child to prevent all of those artistic efforts from spilling over on to walls, floors and other non-art places.

A separate small table and chair with blank paper that extends to all table edges is good for crayons. Start with three colors in a box. Toddlers usually choose one color for the complete work, making scribbling movements back and forth across the page.

The big arm movements and learning to hold the crayon are the sole interest. (Your toddler will color from edge to edge and right on to the table if it is not covered.) Eventually mastery to keep the work on the paper develops along with fine motor skills.

This activity has a beginning and an end. Your child will walk away when finished.

AuntyB Hint:

1. Tape paper to table to keep it from sliding around during boisterous arm movements.
2. Toddlers need normal-sized crayons. The larger ones are too big for their small fingers.
3. When the activity is complete, take away the used paper and replace with a clean sheet, which invites more work.