Enjoyment
children learn best when they are enjoying themselves.
singing stimulates auditory discrimination
essential to development of children's’ imaginations
and ability to express ideas in words, music, dance,
gestures
Repetition
language is learned by imitation and repetition
singing provides a fun and enjoyable means to repetition,
children do not notice how many times they have repeated
something they like, it is never a chore
learn songs by heart, especially pre-reading children,
helps develop memory
Linguistic factor
the flow of the words in songs imitate the flow of the
words in language, intonation, inflexion, stress, articulation
children can often sing in a foreign language easily
even though they may not speak that language at all,
it is the flow of the language through singing which
allows the ease of this
Helps with reading ability
process of placing words into rhythmic patterns in singing
reinforces their speaking ability, learn basics of poetry
without knowing it
Learn about one’s culture
introduce new words and concepts, alone, with family
or in small groups
provides a ‘prompt’ to discuss the content,
opportunity to history(seasons, stories, morals)
action songs reinforce co-ordination, can be in the
form of of matching the rhythm of an action with the
music or in the form of holding up fingers to count
the verse or other things in the song (e.g.. “five
little waves were dancing about” etc.)
Reinforce numeracy, literacy and memory
counting songs, alphabet songs, story songs (e.g.“5
Fat Frogs”), accumulative songs, action songs.
quite often we can remember long songs word for word
but not many of us can remember a story word for word.
Singing in groups
reinforcing, companionship, identification with others,
sense of belonging, social skills develop, sharing,
listening to each other (call and response songs), promotes
understanding and valuing of others’ ideas.
** Useful elements found in songs:
Alphabet
Counting
Memory
Sequencing
Imagination (words)
Action (fine motor)
Action (gross motor, jumping etc. )
Imagination (actions)
Other languages
Dialect/regional
Chants/rhymes-rap/sport
Seasons
Story, Ideas/emotional
Humourous
Using rhythmic/sound effects of own language (animals,
trucks, bells, horns anything)
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