Language & Literacy Development

Language & Literacy Development

Literacy is an integral part of every Kindermusik class experience because music is a natural delivery system for language! Songs, rhymes, finger plays, and story time are just a few examples of activities that focus on important language and literacy features like repetition and steady beat. So when we’re patting away during our hello song or reading stories with repetitive phrases, building language and literacy skills are some of our primary goals! Music has been proven to support early language development as music and speech are very similar; they are both made up of sounds, patterns, and rhythms. In turn, being part of a musical community and classroom experience impacts early language development by building a child’s sense of rhythm and steady beat.

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Incorporating musicality into talking and reading with your child is such a natural way to immerse them in a world of communication through sound and to teach them sound making. Singing, reading, and talking together is truly the best way to build a child’s personal data bank of words! Kindermusik compiled a list of musical books (included below) to support early literacy and language development. If you’re looking for some new ways to work on language and literacy skills such as listening and vocabulary at home with your child, Here’s a “Try it Tip”: Make a field trip to your local library to search for one of the books from the list! While you get ready to go, try singing this simple song (sung to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star), made up by Ms. Liv, about reading with your child! You can click the video link below for a video of what this might look and sound like:

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Reading reading is so fun!
Fun for me and everyone!
Fun for you, fun for me
Fun for Mommy and Daddy!
Reading reading is so fun!
Under clouds and under sun!

List of 12 Musical Books to Support Early Literacy and Language Development

1. Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! By Wynton Marsalis
2. Listen to My Trumpet by Mo Willems
3. The Animal Boogie by Debbie Harter
4. In the Fiddle Is a Song by Durga Bernhard
5. Tuba Lessons by T.C. Bartlett and Monique Felix
6. Hand, Hand Fingers Thumb by Al Perkins
7. Bearful Bear and His New Moves by Anna Lee Everhart
8. Freddy Flamingo and the Kindertown Five by Kindermusik (Story download)
9. Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss (The Reading Rainbow video with Gregory Hines includes a good introduction to the orchestra with children explaining musical terms.)
10. I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello by Barbara Garriel
11. Max Found Two Sticks by Brian Pinkney
12. Violet’s Music by Angela Johnson