| J O R Y ' S Q U O T E S |
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Language and Communication Skills Music uses a different part of the brain than regular speech. Through music, children develop their listening skills, vocabulary, and pre-reading skills (such as syllable recognition, phonological development, etc.). "Children can experience the delight and sensation of having sounds roll off their tongues...as children play with rhymes and reasons, they will build success towards enjoyable reading experiences." - Michael F. Opitz, Rhymes & Reasons "The Arts have a significant positive effect on basic language development and reading readiness." - Linda Williams, Teaching For The Two-Sided Mind "Words are basic to the formation of the self, and words are the only way a child can control his environment." - Ernest Beck Cognitive Skills Music builds brains! Music enhances memory and builds understanding of mathematical relationships (songs have patterns and relationships). "...songs about various educational concepts such as opposites, numbers, vocabulary and human emotions continue to fascinate children." - Barbara Potts, Ph.d Early Childhood Education "TV provides ALL the images; there's no cognitive functioning. In singing a song, we make all the images in our minds, which is VERY cognitive." - Gloria Degatano, Screen Smarts Social Skills Children learn to control and regulate their own impulses so they can successfully connect with their peers and function in social settings. "...the key to developing self-regulation is play, and lots of it. But not just any play.....'mature dramatic play'; complex, extended make-believe scenarios, involving multiple children and lasting hours, even days....dressing up in firefighter hats and wedding gowns, cooking make-believe hamburgers and pouring nonexistent tea, doing the hard, serious work of playing pretend." - Paul Tough, New York Times Magazine, The School Issue: Preschool (9-27-09) Music builds a sense of community, cooperation, listening and sharing, outlets for emotional expression, and confidence. Motor Skills Both fine and gross motor skills can be promoted through music's 'kinesthetic learning'. Music makes children want to move! Bev Boss says "98 percent of what we learn, we learn from the neck down!" We must use our bodies and senses to hardwire our brains! Creative and Imaginative Ability Music, art, and dramatic play provide vehicles for children's own creative expression and ideas, and motivates them to use their language, use their bodies, socialize with peers and adults, and much more. Creative and imaginative ability will enrich their lives. "The arts, by attending to the whole personality, build self-confidence and self-esteem. The arts are prime motivators..." - Linda Williams, Teaching For the Two-Sided Mind "Music is an intelligence in and of itself. It also uses some of the other 6 intelligences in various ways. Songs are linguistic, rhythm is logical, dance and using instruments is body kinesthetic, musical interpretation is interpersonal, etc. Thus, by being involved in music,a child becomes in tune with many aspects of the self." - Dr. Howard Gardner, The 7 Intelligences |
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| Jory explains why music, art, and dramatic play are important for young children!
Music, art and dramatic play are wonderful tools for enriching overall development in young children. Many studies have proven the importance and significance of using these tools with preschoolers. Let's look at why. "Children without access to an arts program....are not being exposed to non-verbal modalities which help them learn skills like reading, writing, math, much more easily." - Dr. Jean Houston , Foundation for Mind Research |