Babies, toddlers and preschoolers are always on the move - Let's direct that energy into learning about FAST and SLOW! Working with this opposite pair children are developing their vocabulary, learning body control, improving listening skills AND developing fine/gross motor skills!
Here are 4 easy ways to use music and movement to teach the concepts of FAST and SLOW:
Play with Rhythm Sticks!
Rhythm sticks are easy for little hands to hold and you can really use your creativity to explore the concepts of fast and slow.
- You can make a soft sound by rubbing them together fast and then slow.
- Make your sticks "walk" and "run".
- Drum them on the floor fast and slow - is one louder than the other?
- Stir the pretend soup pot - but not too fast or it will spill out!
- Click them together as fast as you can and then in slow motion.
Play Red Light, Green Light, Yellow Light
This classic game can encourage good listening skills too! Green light for fast, Yellow light for slow and Red light for stopping! If you can't play outside you can play this as a dance game or maybe use a different locomotor pattern like crawling, hopping, marching instead of running.
Listen and Dance to Songs that Change Tempo
There are so many great songs that have tempo changes. Here are some of Miss Jody's favorites:
"It's Oh So Quiet" by Bjork
"Fast and Slow (The Rabbit and the Turtle)" by Laurie Berkner
"The Little Nash Rambler" by The Playmates
"Fast and Slow" by Dissonant Harmony
Download and Play the FREE Printable Game!
Here's an easy game to play at home with your little one.
Directions:
Print and cut out all the cards. You will have a set of ACTION cards - walk, hop, gallop, etc. and one set of TEMPO cards - fast or slow.
Mix up the action cards and place them face down in one pile. Do the same with the tempo cards placing them in another pile.
Take turns drawing one card from each pile and perform the movement as it says. For example you might CRAWL SLOW on one turn and then HOP FAST the next turn.
When all the cards have been used mix them up and play again!
Shout-out to my good friend Alex at Buffalo Learning Lab who helped me make these cards! Check out her amazing classes at www.buffalolearninglab.com
And if you want to see even more ways to move fast and slow with your little one make sure you join one of my classes - Zumbini, Mommy and Me Yoga or My First Ballet!
All classes can be booked at: www.Moxie.xyz/MissJody
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