Music and movement go well together, and they play a special role in helping children learn about everything from culture to science.
All Montessori preschool children will take part in activities that revolve around music and movement. Music is an important cultural tool, but it is also an ideal way to encourage children to be more creative, to think critically, and to develop both fine and gross motor skills. These 3 simple activities are great examples of how music and movement play a vital role in early education.
- Montessori Preschool Talent Show
Preschool children can learn to sing songs, bang drums, or make music with other instruments, and then put on a show for the whole class with each child taking a turn to show off their talents. Singing, dancing, and making music encourage creativity and critical thinking, build self-esteem, and help children develop important social skills.
- Preschool Sing-Along Activities
Sing-Alongs are a common activity in Montessori preschool. Songs like the Hokey-Pokey assist children with gross motor skills involving their bodies and limbs and the Itsy-Bitsy Spider utilizes a distinct set of fine motor skills used to control the smaller muscles and bones of the hands. In the process, children are also building strong vocabularies or even exploring new languages with songs like Frère Jacques (Brother John), or Señor Don Gato.
- Identifying Instruments
Every musical instrument produces different distinct sounds, and a Montessori preschool classroom is a great place for children to learn which ones make their favorite noises. The more instruments available for comparison, the more precise the activity will be, and this type of activity is well suited to parental involvement from parents with a variety of musical skills to share. Basic preschool instruments like drums, a xylophone, and stringed instruments are great, but they only scratch the surface of what music can convey.
Movement is essential to childhood development and music is a fundamental part of the human experience in every culture of the world. Maria Montessori understood that using music and movement in conjunction provides children with an exciting and engaging way to develop in a natural manner.