Big idea For Village: Vestibular System
A hammock gently swaying in a warm ocean breeze or the quiet creaking of a porch swing in the dappled afternoon sunlight can bring thoughts of a little life balance in an increasingly complex world. As a parent of a child under 2, however, the nursery glider moving back and forth at 10:16pm, 2:01am, and 5:34am might be the closest you can get to that beach or front porch. It can work in a pinch though!
All that nursery rocking reinforces balance of a different kind in your child. The rocking, swaying, and movement stimulate your child’s vestibular system, the part of the brain that controls balance. In Kindermusik class, we rock to lullabies, bounce on knees, and even make hammocks out of blankets to help lap babies and crawlers begin to develop their sense of balance and to reinforce balance and stability in young walkers.
Everyday connection: Rock on! Try out some of the rocking moves from class at home. If your child feels nervous about hammocking in class, try it at home where she feels most comfortable. Think of different ways you can hold your child as you rock or bounce together.

Big idea for Our Time: Early Literacy
At Kindermusik, we love the quote by Emilie Buchwald: “children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” Reading picture books together with adults helps children internalize some skills that are crucial in the development of true literacy.
Reading together:
 Fosters reading enjoyment
 Provides predictability through repetition
 Introduces new vocabulary
 Expands understanding of story structures
 Promotes critical t hinking
 Encourages language play and creative expression
Each week in class when we read Shiny Dinah or another favorite story, your child receives all these key early literacy benefits. Plus, children develop music literacy through the rhythm and movement elements of Kindermusik stories.
Everyday connection: Act on it! Read your child’s favorite book together and then pretend to be the characters in the book. Is it Shiny Dinah? Be the train or a passenger. Where are you going today and what will you see and hear along the way?

Big Idea for Imagine That!: Accelerando

Here’s a fun word. Accelerando! Say it again. Only this time, start slow and speed it up (throw your hand up in the air, too).  Accelerando!

It means “getting faster” and in music indicates a change in tempo or speed. This change can take place gradually or in certain parts of the music. Noticing the difference in these tempos hones listening skills as well as music appreciation in your child.  The train is a good illustration of this concept. And throughout the week you and your preschooler can find many different sound samples or physical feeling of accelerando in daily life: the car going faster while pressing the accelerator or a ball rolling down a hill.  This week notice accelerando while listening to your home CD or the radio.