How to boost language development, literacy and rhythm
Yes, you can help teach your child language, literacy and rhythm all at the same time! Plus, it’s easy and fun! Two words:
CLAP-PING. COUNT-ING.
By separating words into syllables, you are teaching the patterns of sound in language. Clapping (or patting on legs or stomping with feet) adds the full body connection to really be able to feel the sounds. By then counting the syllables, you can teach the patterns of sound in music – which is rhythm!
Let me give you an easy example and one that we always use in the fall!
TREE and APPLE.
Help your kiddo clap (or tap or pat legs or stomp) while saying tree. TREE. Model it a few times and do it together. Depending on your child’s age you can ask, “how many sounds is tree?” or “How many times did we clap on the word?” (One. The answer is one.)
Then, using one of our Fancy Pants Music Word teaching phrases you can say (and ideally show the image): “Quarter note.” (Have kiddo echo – quarter note.) “One sound. One beat.” (Kiddo echos – one sound, one beat.) Point to the quarter note each time you say “Tree. Tree.” Have your kiddo do the same.
Now, for apple. Help your kiddo clap (or tap or pat legs or stomp) while saying apple. AP-PLE. Model it a few times and do it together. Depending on your child’s age you can ask, “how many sounds is apple?” or “How many times did we clap on the word?” (Two. The answer is two!)
Then, using one of our Fancy Pants Music Word teaching phrases you can say (and ideally show the image): “Double-eighth note.” (Have kiddo echo – double-eighth note.) “Two sounds – one beat.” (Kiddo echos – two sounds, one beat.) Point to each dot at the bottom of the double-eighth note for each syllable “Ap-ple.” The left dot would be ap-, the right dot would be -ple. Have your kiddo do the same.
Rinse and repeat! Do this with any and every (one or two) syllable word that comes your way. Eventually, if you’re really fancy (and depending on child’s age, of course), you could introduce three syllable words with triplets and four syllable words with sixteenth notes. But, for the littlest kiddos, starting with one and two syllable words is plenty! Encouraging them to connect sounds to syllables and rhythms is an incredible way to boost their language development, future literacy skills and understanding of musical rhythms!
