Lots of research has been published that shows why music is fundamental in early childhood education. Music is just as important to problem solving and logical skill development as math and language. Musical intelligence has been elevated by research. That makes me so happy because, well, music is fun and blends in well with play based learning and sensory exercises and language acquisition.
Here is an easy activity and tool you can use at home that is not only enjoyable for you and your child but will help the developing mind, specifically self-regulation. These musical beat cards were a gift from a Montessori instructor, so please use them for personal reasons only. The activity is quite simple to present and there’s lots of room for variation.
Here is how it works: On each card there are the number 1 to 4. Also included on the cards are red vertical lines below the numbers. When a number has a red line below, this indicates that there is a change. For example, you could simply use your voice by saying the numbers without a line and keeping silent on the numbers that have a red line. Make sense?
At Sponge right now, your kids are having fun with music in our concert unit. They have been learning language that can easily be integrated into this exercise. Please refer to your take home handouts for the vocabulary below in your child’s specific language.
- Count – practice numbers in language
- Quiet and Loud – when there is a red line raise your voice when saying the number and be quiet when there isn’t a line
- Guitar and Drums – when there is a red line play the guitar (real or pretend) and when there is not a red line, play the drums
- Piano and Shakers – switch instruments, when there is a red line play the piano (real or pretend) and the shakers when there is not
- Clapping Hands and Stomping Feet – when there is a red line, clap your hands and stomp your feet when there is not
- Dance and Be Still – when there is a red line dance and when there isn’t a line, be still
- Take Turns – one person claps their hands on the red line and one remains silent, then switch
Have a wonderful time playing with music and language together this month!
is beautiful (see above image). The detail is extraordinary and is sure to capture a child’s eye. We use these replicas with Rand McNally’s set of 
and our 
. I set the cards out in a basket with the world monuments and my son natural finds the matching card. Then we seek the monument on the world map. It’s hands on and requires moving around the room, all great for a young child’s development.
