This week we had another short week filled with lots of learning and fun. On Monday, we had music with Andrew, our Music Specialist. The children loved singing, dancing and playing with instruments such as egg shakers. We also held a colorful parachute and got to meet Andrews puppet dog name Bingo. Music is an important part of child development. Young children love sound. Music activities and experiences help children practice important skills, including thinking, language, motor coordination and understanding emotions. Music is a powerful tool that helps children learn new thinking skills. When children play with musical instruments, they explore cause and effect. They can see that pressing a key makes a sound. Additionally, they learn to pay attention to changes in sound, for example, that certain keys sound deeper than others. Exploring musical instruments helps children learn how different instruments work and the sounds they create. Singing is a powerful way for young children to practice language. When children sing, they practice pronouncing words and putting together sentences. Learning the lyrics to songs is also an effective way to remember information. How many people first learn the alphabet by singing the ABC song? Our brains remember language better when it is set to music. Songs with motions help children practice fine-motor coordination. Doing the finger motions of a song like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" or a finger play like "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" helps children practice their hand and finger control -- a skill necessary for writing and handling small objects. Dancing to music also helps children perfect their control of their arms and legs. Most importantly, music and dance are fun and help children to be playful with classmates. We look forward to having music with Andrew every Monday after the holidays. We also went for a nature walk and collected beautiful leaves and sticks. Next week we will use our findings to learn about Sukkot. Shabbat Shalom and have a wonderful long weekend! Julia and Marcela
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