A stern voice, or even the word “no,” would trigger meltdowns. Thankfully, I discovered the magic of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, a children’s television show that offered practical solutions for navigating these situations.
Category: Music In Early Intervention
Through this Early Intervention to Piano Teacher transition, I have realized that the fundamental learning process of humans learning new skills is the same: language, walking, holding crayons, or playing piano.
As a parent, I played this album “Sounds Like Fun” in CD format for my own children to fall asleep. Now, as a music therapy student, I’ve rediscovered the song’s simple melody and repetitive chords making it an excellent tool for my own journey in learning how to play the guitar.
Using the simple song “The Ants Go Marching” is a great way to both be individualized and consistent in your own lesson planning. You can address a wide variety of goals as well as keep your planning simple.
There are so many more fun and challenging things you can do with this song. Each child has their own set of challenges and preferences. With some creativity, one song can be adapted to meet each of these needs.
I plan activities (loosely) ahead of time for Early Intervention sessions. An easy way for me to both 1) not get bored and 2) keep track of progress is to repeat one particular action song that we stick to for a month. This month it is the Little Fish Song, “All the Little Fish Are Swimming in the Water.”
The song “Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” by Eileen Christelow is a favorite due to its interactive nature. It encourages play and incorporates developmental skills like counting and pretending. Practical props like phones and doctor’s kit enhance the experience. The song offers a variety of playful activities for children and promotes interactive learning.
Working with children, I love using action songs, especially the simple ones most mamas and daddies already know. “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” is one I use frequently for things like rocking and swinging activities. To me, it lends itself to rocking movement.
All Things Early Intervention 