Experimental Learning

Moving with a prop provides an excellent opportunity for multi-sensory learning. Gliding a hoop through the room to music, for example, engages the senses of touch, hearing, and sight. Moreover, children can visualize the rhythm and melody and physically apply what they are hearing when they move their props. Props are a fun way to experience music and movement concepts!
Resources for parents: Make your own props by recycling simple things around the house. An oatmeal container can become a drum. A paper towel tube can become a conductor’s baton or a fairy princesses’ scepter. Empty boxes can become a jack-in-the-box toy to hide in and jump out of. A shoe box can become a stringed instrument by cutting a whole in the top and stretching some rubber bands across it. Sturdy paper plates can be filled with dried pasta and securely fastened together to make a tambourine shaker. What excites your child’s imagination and gets them moving around?

A Road Trip!!!

Are we there yet?!?!?!”


Sound familiar? We all know road trips can be tough with little ones. So, considering we have entered the heaviest traveled season of the year, it’s time to gather up some songs, toys, and games for those long car rides. We at Kindermusik have a few ideas to help make a long car trip just a little more fun & musical for your child, which means travel gets just a little easier for you!
We asked our community to tell us their favorite Kindermusik song that they listen to in the car. Below is the Kindermusik Road Trip Playlist, which we compiled out of your favorites. You can download the below kids songs right off play.kindermusik.com to build your own portable road trip playlist.



The Kindermusik Road Trip Playlist
Wishy-Washy
Skinnamarink
Rig-a-Jig-Jig
Ram Sam Sam
Clapping Land
Lukey’s Boat
Walk Along, Rover
Peep Squirrel/Whisky Frisky
Old MacDonald
Usagi, Usagi (Rabbit, Rabbit)
My Bonnie
Yankee Doodle
Lucy Locket
Baby-O

6 Tips for Stress-Free Holidays

Okay maybe not stress free, but less stress?

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s a good time to have a plan for reducing the feelings of stress and overwhelm that are often a part of the holiday season, despite our best efforts otherwise. Here are six tips that can help you formulate a plan to ensure that the whole family can enjoy the holidays to their fullest.

Determine to take time for the little moments. A holiday-themed or other favorite book before nap or bedtime. A dance around the kitchen while the pasta cooks. A drive through the neighborhood to see all the lights. Just a simple cup of hot chocolate :)
Choose to establish one new tradition or special holiday ritual for your family. Perhaps it’s attending a local kid-friendly holiday concert. Or maybe you might choose to make or buy an Advent Calendar to help you count down the days. With older children, you might opt for taking cookies to an elderly shut-in.
Enjoy the music of the season. Take all of your favorite Kindermusik-style activities right into the holidays! Move-along, play-along, dance-along, and sing-along to all of your holiday favorites. Enjoy a free holiday music download of Winter Wonderland on us this month only!
Keep your daily routines as consistent as possible. While everyone in the house benefits from a predictable routine, young children especially need the familiar predictability of their regular schedule to keep them from falling apart or feeling out of sorts.
Decide ahead of time to keep things simple. It’s easy to let all the activities, excitement, and glitz of the holidays take over to the point of overwhelm. Deciding in advance to keep things simple (i.e., maybe one tree instead of two, or just one or two parties, or buying goodies to give instead of making them all) can really keep the joy in the season.
Focus on people more than expectations. After all, it’s the love of those special people around us that make the holidays matter the most. Even when we know that, it is still easy to allow ourselves to be let down by unrealistic or unmet expectations when really it’s all about just being present in the moment and realizing that being together can be one of the best gifts of all.

Daddy/Mommy Says

This activity for toddlers 12 to 18 months is a great one for the child who LOVES to mimic! At this age, your little one loves to imitate you. Daddy Says (or Mommy Says) is like the well-known game “Simon Says.” But, it’s better because it’s led by Daddy or Mommy! Encourage your child to imitate you as you wiggle your fingers, stomp your feet, wave your hands, flap your arms, or shake your head. Toddlers learn by doing! Engaging games that link movement and words help your toddler learn words faster.



Kindermusik music classes are another great ways for parents to bond with their children. Find out how to be a part of the world’s largest & most researched musical learning program or sign up for a free class, a no commitment, fun activity to do with your toddler anytime!