What’s happening with your child’s early speech and language? 
Kindermusik is the place to hear your child sing and speak more and more!
Here are some of our favorite Foundations of Learning® about speech and language:
Language skills may be increased through exploration of familiar word patterns with a tune. During Vocal Play, the child experiences rhythm, accents, synchronization and tempo, all integral parts of communication.
Vocal play with Baby may increase her understanding of language. The adult brain processes speech with phenomenal speed but it takes Baby longer to process even the most familiar sounds. Therefore, concentrate on isolated syllables during vocal play.
Segmenting words into the smallest sound units of speech, which are called phonemes, fosters a child’s awareness of the sounds of words and the uses of language. A child develops phonemic awareness by experiencing activities that include:
– rhythmically spoken words, rhymes and verses
– songs that include syllable division
– words and letter sounds that are repeated.
The more you expose your child to language through speech and song, the stronger his language skills will be. Language acquisition is a gradual process that involves many facts of development including: listening, facial interaction, symbolic play, means to end behavior, object permanence, imitation and vocal chord development. Vocal play can aid in Baby’s language acquisition.
“Live language has greater value for Baby than language heard through other media. It’s important to know that language coming from a television, even from so-called educational programs, has no value for an infant. Those sounds are meaningless because the flickering shape on the screen is abstract and the speech is too fast. Most parents and caregivers automatically gear their speech to the child, speaking slowly and clearly, with the child’s full attention.”
Simple Stpes by Karen Miller
Pattern awareness is crucial to learning and memory. Just as in story reading, singing directly exposes participants to the patterns of language, including rhythm, speech sounds, syntax and rhyme.
The vestibular system is the part of the brain that handles balance and the sense of gravity. The variety of movements linear and rotary helps a child develop a sense of gravity, balance and where his body is in space. The linear movements are soothing and the rotary movements are stimulating. A well-developed vestibular system provides emotional security, good muscle tone and develops auditory language processing and visual-spatial processing.
Foundations of Learning® statements courtesy of Kindermusik International