Parenting Tip:  Play ‘freeze dance’ with your preschooler!   Why? For young children, the rhythms of music are felt through the body.  This physical experience with the rhythms and patterns of music can help children begin to internalize the rhythms and patterns of language, as well.  This internalization helps with language acquisition and comprehension, as well as reading fluidity.  Becoming a good listener will help your child: Learn more quickly and effectively for later academic success, heed danger signals, get along better with you and other adults, and make better friends   How? Turn on some music, and dance!  Pause the music, at random times, and have everyone ‘freeze like a statue!’ until the music begins again.  Move to Sally Go Round the Sun!  Learn how to make Weather Sounds!  Can you create movements to match each sound you imitate?  Get a scarf, washcloth, paper towel, or tissue, and move like a leaf, as you listen to ‘Leaves in the Wind,’ from the Kindermusik ‘Outside My Window’ CD.   Want to Learn More? On our blog – learn more about the benefits of music & movement! Kindermusik 7-year Continuum: As babies, Kindermusik kids are moved by their adults to a variety of music and sound.  In toddler classes, they begin to move themselves, as the copy their adult’s movements to different sounds & music.  In preschool classes, children use that experience, and their own sense of hearing to decide when to move and when to stop, when to make big or small moves, and when to move fast or slow.  In big kid classes, children use that same experience and sense of hearing to know whether or not they are playing the correct note, and whether they are playing, as one, with their musical ensemble of classmates.