Visual aids are a crucial part of
Music and Movement classes for children aged 0-5 years old.
Visual aids come in many forms, and it is useful to know what the basic set of equipment can be to get your Music and Movement classes started and how best to engage your customers but also represent your classes and business.
Take the time to really focus on what you’re providing within your sessions.
Here’s a few ideas for visual aids you will find useful in your Music and Movement classes:
1. Bright, multi coloured pompoms and scarves
These basic items are essential in Music and Movement classes as they can be used for a variety of different exercises. Both items lend themselves to being used during songs and exercises as they promote the idea of movement and a child will instinctively move the item and their bodies whilst holding them.
2. A box of musical instruments
Musical instruments are a key part of Music and Movement classes, after all the clue is in the name! Caregivers are specifically bringing their children to class that is based around music, so it is necessary that your focus is on as much audible and physical integration with the subject as possible. Children absolutely love having an opportunity to be as interactive as possible by playing with a variety of sounds, shapes, and textures. Instruments offer huge developmental opportunities whereby babies and toddlers are able develop their gross and fine motor skills such as pushing, tapping, lifting for babies and for toddlers, coordinating both hands to play the instrument, putting fingers in the right places on strings, over holes, or on keys.
3. Puppets
There is a great amount of research and studies available to show the benefits of puppetry on emotional and social development within early years. For babies, puppets offer the visual aid needed for prolonged focus and attention whereas with toddlers it can offer a more profound development effect as they are often able to rehearse strategies and ideas that they don’t feel ready to in the real world. Puppets are perfect for storytelling, nursery rhymes and instructional messages and are a great way of exploring different kinds of interactions. Caregivers can often find a lot of joy and humour in puppets too so never be afraid to be as characterised as possible.
Always ensure that, whatever resources you have, you have plenty to go round. Everyone will need their own piece of equipment to play with and learn through.
Variety of your props is also important over the months and years that your classes run. Although consistency in this age group is a key tool to aid development, varieties within themes and their physical reference are important to stimulate excitement for the class and creativity of the child within it. Remember to rotate and not use the same resources week in, week out.
