Children are born musicians, dancers, artists and storytellers, and the opportunities for healthy development are endless. We just have to provide the canvas, the paper, the paints, the materials and the welcoming environment, setting the stage for creativity, learning and fun. Can’t we try to de-emphasize the ABCs and re-emphasize what comes naturally to young children? Not only will the children’s environment brighten, but adults will find the stress decreases and productivity and efficiency increase. It really is so simple.
Here’s a few benefits of action songs for preschools:
Children’s action songs strengthen memory and recall.
Children’s action songs offer rich learning experiences that have children memorizing information in a variety of ways. Children’s action songs have children learning musically, verbally, visually, and physically – all at the same time. The combination of all of these learning styles, found in children’s action songs, strengthens memorization of information and the ability to recall what has been learned.
Develop fine and gross motor skills
Songs such as ‘Ten little Indians…,’ ‘Five little ducks…,’ and ‘Itsy, bitsy Spider…,’ involve dexterous finger movements. Such finger play (opening and closing the fingers, wiggling and wagging them) aids fine motor skills development in your tiny tot. Similarly, when your little one mimics the actions and sings aloud, ‘Row, row, row your boat…,’ or chants, ‘I am a little tea-pot…,’she develops better muscular control, balance, and co-ordination.