Music for Learning

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can encourage the pathways of their brains to make new connections.

Circles and Music
Sit with your baby in your lap facing you.
Take one of his hands and move it around in a circular motion.

As you move it in a circular motion, sing the following to the tune of “In and Out the Window.”
Go round and round the circle
Go round and round the circle
Go round and round the circle
A circle’s very round.

Take the other hand and do the same thing.
Now move both hands at the same time.
Make circles high in the air, sideways, down low, etc.
Play some instrumental music and make the circles as you listen with your baby.
This game is a good prelude for drawing shapes to music.

Song Patting
Try song patting when changing a diaper, giving your child a bath, or any time.
Sing a favorite song to your little one and, at the same time, pat her tummy or back with your index finger to the rhythm of the song.
Always end the song with a snuggly kiss.

You can also sing one line of the song and pat only one word. For example, “Twinkle, twinkle, little (pat the word “star” but don’t sing it).”

This game helps develop a child’s sense of rhythm and listening skills.

Brain research says that for a young child's brain to grow and thrive, the child needs to be loved, held, talked to, read to, and allowed to explore.

SUGGESTED PRODUCTS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS
Soft Block Farm - 29pcs - SFTFARM
Dressing Dolls - 18" - DRESSY
Squishy Turtle Book - NBBK33
Rhythm Sticks Movement Set - 25 pcs - ROCKSET

Games for Toddlers

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can encourage the pathways of their brains to make new connections.

FOR TODDLERS

Choo Choo Happy Game
When you repeat the same word many times and then change to a new word, your toddler will pay attention to the new word. This is called “shaping.”

Hold your toddler on your lap facing you.

Say the words “choo choo” as you bounce her up and down on your knees. Repeat the words several times and then add a different word. For example:
Choo choo choo choo happy

Repeat this several times so that she becomes familiar with the new word “happy.”
Now, use the new word “happy” in several sentences.
“I’m a happy mom,” or “Here’s a happy face.”
Now say the word “happy” several times and add a new word.
Happy, happy, happy, happy, (new word).
Use the new word in a few sentences before you play the game again.

Your baby will become familiar with the word “happy” and other words that you use and will recognize them when she hears them.

This game teaches word recognition.

Games for Infants

These games will help to grow the brains of infants and toddlers. Whether it’s through singing, dancing, cuddling, rocking, talking, smelling, or tasting, you can encourage the pathways of their brains to make new connections.

FOR INFANTS

Develop your infant’s language skills when you prepare a meal or snack by chanting the following verse or singing it to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell.”

It’s time to find the milk
It’s time to find the milk
Hi, ho, the derry oh
It’s time to find the milk.

Walk to the refrigerator and take out the milk carton. Say, “Oh boy, I love milk. Yum, yum.”
Use the chant with other foods or household items. Take out the item, chant the verse, and then talk about the food.
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Expressing pleasant emotions with your baby is very good for brain development.
In addition, games such as this one develop language skills.

Brain research says that tone and facial expressions are understood before words. Emotional learning is intertwined with all domains of learning.

Try this game.

This Is Bill
1. Sit your baby on your lap
2. Hold one ankle in each hand as you say the following rhyme:

This is Bill and this is Jill.
They went out to play.
Over and over, (move his legs over each other)
Over and over, (move his legs over in the other direction)
“This is fun,” said Bill and Jill.
And then they said, “Hooray!” (give your baby a big hug)