Parenting Tip:  Sing echo songs, with your toddler   Why? Simple echo songs help children improve their ability to produce certain sounds, increase phrase length, and improve auditory attention and memory.  Echoing simple songs, in a limited range, gives children opportunities to match pitch, and practice using their high, light, head voice, in a fun, non-threatening environment.    How? Cue up a recording – like the ‘Toe-Tappin’, Foot-Stompin’, Egg-Shakin’ Blues’ (on Kindermusik’s ‘How Do You Feel?’ CD), and enjoy singing along to the echo parts, with your child. Sing the Kindermusik Goodbye song, together.  Take turns being the leader, and being the echo-singer. To keep the singing going, sing along with your child, as you watch ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It!’   Want to Learn More? On our blog – read about the Connection Between Language and Singing Development, along with Why & How to Sing to Your Child. Kindermusik 7-Year Continuum: Kindermusik baby classes use vocal play to help baby learn to use the full range of his voice.  As toddlers, little singers learn the beginnings of pitch-matching (singing in tune) by singing echo songs – like the Goodbye song.  In preschool Kindermusik classes, children sing complete songs with their teacher, and play games where they have opportunities to sing on their own, too.  Big kids in Young Child classes sing solos as a part of their ‘Goodbye’ song.