Making the Most of Kindermusik At-Home Materials

Making the Most of Kindermusik At-Home Materials
by Theresa Case, Kindermusik Educator
Just like a Kindermusik class, At Home Materials provide stepping stones for growth, building on the learning from one class to the next. Everything in Kindermusik’s At Home Materials helps the parent and child receive the full developmental benefits of music and movement.
But it’s not [...]

“Musical Motivation” for children and their grown-ups

“Musical Motivation” for children and their grown-ups
By Amy Brewer ~ Kindermusik and early childhood educator
How can we help our children keep building their interest and love of
music? Here are a few ideas you can use at home—much will depend on
the ages of your children, and some will apply better to certain
ages. Basically, just [...]

PBS’ Electric Company

YouTube continues to be a great resource for things I forgot I remembered!
Remember Electric Company? Here at WIKI & Here at IMDB
Here is the intro for the first show in 1971…

and a search at YouTube will bring up more clips.
Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, Rita Morano, Irena Cara we on this show, plus more.
There is [...]

Why Do Kids Run and Jump?

Why Do Kids Run and Jump?
Parents and early educators confront play-related issues every day. They deplore the elimination of recess and playtimes in schools. They complain about childhood obesity or attack play directly: “There are so many toys in here, there’s no room for learning.” A New York Times Magazine article, “Taking Play Seriously” (February [...]

Play IS Important

It is amazing to me how many of the articles about the importance of PLAY highlight many of the same activities we do in Kindermusik!
Kindermusik IS the best single choice for your child.
Happy playing! ~Lori

Better Ways to Play

Listen at NPR.
Better Ways to Play
by Alix Spiegel
Self-regulation is a critical skill for kids. Unfortunately, most kids today spend a lot of time doing three things: watching television, playing video games and taking lessons. None of these activities promote self-regulation.
We asked for alternatives from three researchers: Deborah Leong, professor of psychology at Metropolitan State [...]

Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control

Morning Edition, February 28, 2008
Listen at NPR.
Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control
by Alix Spiegel
It’s playtime at the Geraldyn O. Foster Early Childhood Center in Bridgeton, N.J., and in one corner of a busy classroom, 4-year-olds Zee Logan and Emmy Hernandez want to play bookstore.
In a normal preschool, playing bookstore would be a pretty casual [...]

Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control

Morning Edition, February 21, 2008
Listen at NPR.
Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control
by Alix Spiegel
On October 3, 1955, the Mickey Mouse Club debuted on television. As we all now know, the show quickly became a cultural icon, one of those phenomena that helped define an era.
What is less remembered but equally, if not more, important, [...]

Why Play is Important

Why Play is Important
Elizabeth Jones, early childhood expert from Pacific Oaks and long-time Exchange writer, presented ideas on the value of play in Work and Family Life (February 2008; www.workandfamilylife.com). According to Jones, play teaches kids to…
* Use their imagination, improvise, think flexibly, and explore new options.
* Make appropriate choices from among many possibilities.
* Solve [...]

Toys Made in the USA

http://www.usmadetoys.com/
http://www.turnertoys.com/
http://www.oldfashionedblocks.com/
http://www.dandmewoodtoys.com/
http://www.woodentrain.com/
http://www.maplelandmark.com/
http://www.heirloomwoodentoys.com/
http://www.woodentoys.com/
http://www.vermontwoodentoys.com/
http://www.kidbean.com/toys.html
http://www.holgatetoy.com/