IECMHC Cites Music and Movement as Important to Child Development
Although spring is just around the corner, winter weather can continue into March - and even April - so it is important for parents and guardians to find ways for children to remain active while indoors.
Learn More
The Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) program’s March newsletter focuses on music and movement in the classroom and includes several resources
The IECMHC cites several benefits of music and movement for children in the early childhood education classroom. Through music and movement, children can:
Be creative by expressing themselves through dance, lyrics, and storytelling
Undergo emotional development by learning to recognize and process emotions and developing empathy
Enhance motor skills by improving coordination, balance, and strength through dancing, clapping, and jumping
Enhance cognitive skills by developing memory, categorization, and problem-solving abilities
Enhance social skills through the development of emotional intelligence, which is linked to success in many areas of life
The IECMHC also suggests trying to strike a healthy balance when it comes to screen time - or the use of smartphones, tables, computers, or other devices - for children. To foster well-rounded development, it suggests substituting the following for screen time: art, reading, interactive games, outdoor play, music and movement.
Further Resources
The IECMHC provides a wide variety of resources revolving around the importance of music and movement for children.
These include an article on the importance of music and movement in early childhood education and how to use music, rhythm, and movement to enhance children’s self-regulation.
Among the IECMHC’s resources are information on music and movement relating to: