How does my baby benefit from Kindermusik Village?
Music and musical activities such as Kindermusik for babies at a very early age are desirable and optimum! Kindermusik is a research-developed educational program that tells us what mom's know intuitively: cognitive, social and emotional development begins in a newborn's very first days of life, and from the very beginning we can do much to nurture that growth in natural, loving ways. That is what we do together in a Kindermusik Village class, while making music and making new friends.
We offer activities in the Kindermusik classroom for lap babies (0 - 6 months,) crawling babies (about 7 mo - 12 mo) and walkers (anytime after 12 months.) Each baby is at a different age and stage, and the adults are guided to do activities at their baby's own level.
For example: if we are playing with jingle balls, the lap baby moms might tap their balls lightly on different parts of the baby's body, letting them hear and feel the beat and rhythm while rocking and singing to the child. A crawler's mom might be doing something similar, but also staying near their moving child, or if the child is sitting, they may be tapping the beat together or crawling after the ball. A walker's adult may be playing catch, dancing and rolling or bouncing the ball with the music.
Babies are stimulated and soothed by music from the very beginning of life, and begin to form their musical tastes. Musical selections are in many different genres, from folk to classical, and in other languages and from different cultures. The more variety babies are exposed to, the greater capacity they'll have for enjoying and creating music.
Some moms, dads, or caregivers are comfortable and delighted with bringing their new babies to class. However, since newer babies who are not quite smiling or moving to music, (and are sometimes napping!) do not appear to be reacting to the music, some parents mistakenly assume their baby is not "getting anything" out of the class. But be assured, they are! It's stimulating those brain cells more than you can tell. Also the home materials (excellent quality CDs, board books, and baby- safe instruments) give you the resources to interact musically and joyfully with baby all week long.
If you believe what the research says and are committed to providing your child with early music, you and your baby will greatly benefit from the Kindermusik program beginning at an early age.