Loving, relationship-based Musical Play lays a strong foundation for learning and music for life – but are you doing it right?
Babies delight in sharing face to face singing and babbling games with parents and caregivers.
Match your baby’s energy level and musical offerings.
Use deep pressure touch to calm and regulate with songs like “Feet, knees, tummy, shoulders, head," that sing up the scale and teach babies about pitch in relation to their own bodies.
Tickle games, like “Round and Round The Garden,” develop anticipation, enjoyment and a higher arousal level. Through this kind of play babies learn to be a social learner and player. From a very early age they can take the lead through gesture, vocalising and whole body movement.
When we follow their sounds, and musical offerings, they develop a sense of pride and ability to be a proud performer.
Watch, listen, give them time to process, interact and communicate.
Babbling games offer wonderful opportunities to share sounds, through echoing each other. Use exaggerated facial expression and enjoy being in the moment together.
Sing, say, dance and play with your baby. Don’t be afraid to be really playful and dramatic.
Through such Musical Play the whole brain becomes activated. The brain loves rhythmic patterning, use of steady beat, and playful games like “Peek a Boo”.
Loving, relationship-based Musical Play lays a strong foundation for learning and music for life.