School-Readiness
As the end of the “school year” approaches, often times school-readiness is a big focus point for a lot of parents, thinking ahead to the next year/transition for their child, whether that be entering a new grade or even entering school for the first time in the Fall! There are many different skills that most children need in order to feel “school-ready”, for example skills such as fine motor skills like being able to hold a crayon, as well as more specific social-emotional types that can be particularly key for lots of different school successes, such as self-regulation skills or more simply learning how to stop and go. Click on the picture or button below to watch a video that outlines the basics of school-readiness.
There are many reasons why music classes can be one of the most vital tools in preparing children to be school ready including practice with early literacy and math skills, as well as self-regulation and listening/community building which will be highlighted in more detail below. All of those different areas combine to nurture the development of the whole child and why environments like Kindermusik class that focus on “the process not the performance” help to build the self-confidence necessary for such a huge transition like the transition to school for your little one.
Self-regulation, also known as inhibitory control, is a skill that takes lots of practice! Simply learning to stop one’s body and then go again is harder than it sounds! Try playing stop and go games at home with your child. For example, a simple freeze dance game that involves moving when the music is playing and being still when the music stops can be a powerful tool in teaching children that they have control over their own bodies. It’s this mixture of self-awareness and patience that helps create self-control which will be imperative for achieving success in school.
Listening/Social skills help prepare children to be school ready by showing them what types of expectations there will be of them in a school environment. Being part of a community is something that children should have practice with and thus why music class is one of the safest places for children to experience being part of a community from an early age. Learning how to be part of a community, and more simply how to be a friend, is a process that requires patience, taking turns, listening to others, and feeling empathy. Even the simplest routines during music class have these goals in mind, for instance when instruments are passed out the children are put in the position to wait patiently and share with not only the other children in their class but their grown-ups as well. Also, the simple routine of singing hello songs and listening to/greeting those in the “community” helps children to develop social awareness of other people and understand that they too have their own thoughts, ideas, and feelings; what is at the core of feeling empathy and expressing it. All of these social skills like listening and empathy require the use of working memory, so by giving children the time and place to practice using it they will be able to succeed in school situations that require the use of their working memory such as remembering people’s names and understanding what is helpful to the teacher.
Listening/Social skills help prepare children to be school ready by showing them what types of expectations there will be of them in a school environment. Being part of a community is something that children should have practice with and thus why music class is one of the safest places for children to experience being part of a community from an early age. Learning how to be part of a community, and more simply how to be a friend, is a process that requires patience, taking turns, listening to others, and feeling empathy. Even the simplest routines during music class have these goals in mind, for instance when instruments are passed out the children are put in the position to wait patiently and share with not only the other children in their class but their grown-ups as well. Also, the simple routine of singing hello songs and listening to/greeting those in the “community” helps children to develop social awareness of other people and understand that they too have their own thoughts, ideas, and feelings; what is at the core of feeling empathy and expressing it. All of these social skills like listening and empathy require the use of working memory, so by giving children the time and place to practice using it they will be able to succeed in school situations that require the use of their working memory such as remembering people’s names and understanding what is helpful to the teacher.
Transitioning to school is one of the biggest transitions in your little one’s life. Parenting can, at times, feel like a constant state of evolution and change, always prepping for the next phase and forgetting to enjoy the here and now! That’s why music classes are two-pronged and can be beneficial not only for children, in providing them the opportunity to practice the social-emotional skills that will be required of them in school, but also for parents, because the classes afford them the chance to take a step back from the hectic pace of the day, week, month or even year and really tune in to how their child is growing, learning first-hand about their child’s preferences when it comes to personal choices, creativity, and expression. Here’s a special “Try It Tip” this month: Making children feel seen, heard and supported is one of the most important jobs a parent has and can be one of the biggest factors in whether or not a child will be and feel “school-ready.” Reassure your child that even when they experience setbacks that bouncing back is the most important aspect. There are many different types of calming techniques that can support your child during setbacks. Try modeling physical, self-calming techniques with your child the next time you need to reassure them during a setback, for example “breathe-in calmness” by teaching your child to take a big deep breath in and then pretend to blow out the birthday candles or blow a bubble across the yard.
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