Whether you are a stay at home Mom, a day care, a preschool teacher, or anyone else who hangs out with children under the age of five, you can easily learn how to teach the fundamentals of music and rhythm to the children under your care. Do not be discouraged if you have no musical background or skills. You will learn quickly that music’s most basic component, rhythm, is in you, and all you need to do is let it out.
Musical play groups are fun and educational. Start small, with a few children and their parents or other leader. It can be done in your living room, at the beach, at school, even in the car while traveling. Start out by clapping hands and singing a familiar tune. The rhythm is in the words, so as you sing and clap (but not if you are driving please), you are combining vocalization with the accompanying rhythm. Have the kids stand up and stomp their feet to the beat, or march in their own mini parade. Music and movement go hand in hand. It can even lead to dancing, which all kids seem to enjoy.
Small rhythm instruments are very inexpensive, and provide many hours of educational play. Those hours of musical play will lead to a solid understanding of playing in rhythm, and playing music as part of a group. These are skills which are vital to success in any future musical endeavor your child may choose to pursue.
