Music and storytimes may just be the perfect early literacy match!
According to a 2016 study at the University of Southern California, musical experiences in childhood can accelerate brain development, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills.
Through music, your child has opportunity to develop motor skills, social-emotional development, vocabulary, and overall literacy. This is why you will often find music expression at your Handley Regional Library storytimes on a regular basis, but even more so this week, as we explore the theme: It's Showtime with Music!
Search our online calendar to find the best location and age range for your child. The navigation on the left makes it easy to narrow down your search for activities at your library branch.
While you are there, don't forget to register or log books for our Summer Reading Program. When you type in the tag: #rhymingrhythms into the catalog, you'll find many more books about music to take home to start logging books to win prizes!
To extend your week of rhymes and rhythms, look around the house for items you can use to make your own instruments. A pot with a wooden spoon? How about rubber bands around an empty tissue box? You can make an easy kazoo by putting wax paper at one end of a paper towel tube and secure with a rubber band. Decorate the tube then sing into open end of tube it and it will have a kazoo type effect on your voice.
You can sing along to one of the many books found in the tag: #bookstosing, along with some of the following musical numbers you'll find on this week's storytime handout.
Mi Cuerpo (My Body)
Mi cuerpo, mi cuerpo hace musica
Mi cuerpo, mi cuerpo hace musica
Mi boca dice la la la
Mis manos hacen (clap, clap, clap)
Mis pies hacen (stomp, stomp, stomp)
Mi cintura hace cha, cha, cha
My body, my body makin’ music sing
My body, my body makin’ music sing
My mouth says (la la la)
My hands say (clap clap clap)
My feet say (stomp stomp stomp)
My waist says (cha cha cha!)
Sing, Dance, and Play
(Bounce or rock or clap along)
Mommy and I dance and sing,
Daddy and I laugh and play.
Mommy, Daddy, and me,
Dance and sing, laugh and play,
kiss and hug (give hugs and kisses)
A zillion times a day!
Let’s Get the Rhythm Rhyme
Let’s get the rhythm of our knees (x3)
If you please..
Let’s get the rhythm of our knees.
Let’s get the rhythm of our shoulders (x3)
Big boulders..
Let’s get the rhythm of our shoulders.
Let’s get the rhythm of our heads (x3)
Oh dread..
Let’s get the rhythm of our heads.
Let’s get the rhythm of our feet (x3)
How neat..
Let’s get the rhythm of our feet.
Sing Sing Sing
(Tune: “Row Your Boat”)
Sing, sing, sing with me,
Sing out loud and clear
To tell the people everywhere
That music time is here.