Music and Movement
Enjoying Music and Movement With Your Six-Year-Old
Enjoying Music and Movement With Your Six-Year-Old
Six-year-olds sing songs with more complex and varied lyrics, rhythms, tempos and musical styles, and are able to use music and musical instruments to imitate and improvise songs and melodies. They can recognize different patterns of tempo, rhythm and pitch; and they listen to and explore various kinds of music, instruments and natural sounds. At this age, children can replicate tempo changes using body movement and develop a short dance sequence with a beginning, middle and end. As their interest in social activities increases, they may enjoy participating in — or attending — skits, puppet shows and theater games using creative movement. While younger children are focused on learning by doing and have a hard time sitting still, 6-year-olds have the maturity to be good audience members for dance and music performances.
Continue to provide your child with lots of opportunities to listen and respond to a variety of musical styles. Sing and dance together and encourage your child’s interest in singing, playing instruments and dancing through afterschool programs and community activities.