Language & Literacy

Got Rhythm? Rhythm Skills Could Predict Reading Disabilities

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Do you know the old jazz standard by George and Ira Gerswin: “I’ve Got Music. I’ve Got Rhythm…Who could ask for anything more?” Well, apparently all that music and rhythm brings even more than a really good dance number by Gene Kelly. New research implies that young children’s rhythm abilities before they can read may eventually help doctors predict future reading disorders. An ongoing
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Early Language Development Flourishes through Music

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Pediatricians will often recommend music classes for children with language delays.  Speech therapists regularly incorporate music and rhymes in their therapy sessions with young children.  Researchers have identified talking and singing with a small child as one of the most effective tools for closing the word gap with under-served populations. Here are six music activities that support early language development – all six are
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Babies Benefit from Learning Two Languages at the Same Time

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We get fired up about the importance of early childhood education. The reason is simple. In the first seven years of a child’s life, their brains are firing up with learning—literally! Every new experience lights up the synapses in the brain and repetition makes those pathways stronger. At the age of two, a child’s brain includes over a 100 trillion synapses. That’s 50 percent
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Answer that Baby Babble to Speed Up Language Development

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Hang around babies long enough and you start hearing things. From soft sweet coos to long monologues of “dadadadadada,” babies talk a lot—even though we have no idea what they are really saying! That’s okay. We don’t need to understand all the words (or non-words!) to join in the conversation. How Parents Respond to All that Baby Babble Matters New early childhood research from
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Why every baby should learn sign language

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Sign language is one of the many ways in which adults can engage babies and young toddlers on their paths to learning language. Sign language is unique because, when paired with words, it makes language learning a multisensory experience. Signing comes naturally to babies and toddlers, and it comes with a host of other benefits as well. 8 reasons why every baby should learn
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7 Surprising Facts about Music and Early Literacy Development

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Fact #1: Music instruction improves phonological awareness. Early exposure to music listening helps train the ear to pick out these individual notes and rhythms.  Later on as children are learning to read, this early music training helps children be able to identify the different sounds that make up words. This is why we play with words, rhythms, and sounds in Kindermusik in vocal play
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New Research: Music Can Offset Children’s Academic Gaps

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Music changes us. Of course, we know that music can move us to tears, conjure up (and make) memories, or even quiet a child’s cries. However, music also literally changes our brains! A new presentation from neuroscientist Nina Kraus at the American Psychological Association’s 122nd Annual Convention displays some of the strongest research to-date proving how music changes the brains of children who are most
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Why Music is One of the Best Things for Early Language Development

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Just google it: “children’s language development.”  Over 35 million hits will appear almost instantaneously.  From tips for parents to academic dissertations, there’s a flood of information and opinion out there.  And while we haven’t checked all 35 million hits, we can guarantee that one of the common threads woven into the fabric of early language development is music. That’s because we learn music and
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How to Talk to Babies When They Can’t Talk Back…Or Can They?

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Caring for an infant can be a bit like visiting a foreign country, especially considering the language barrier. After all, most grown-ups—from first-time parents to experienced early childhood educators—are no longer fluent in Baby. Take a look: Do you know what these babies are talking about? They certainly seem to understand each other! How to talk to babies Even though we may not know
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