If you are looking for activities for your little one to burn off some energy and learn something new, then you can’t go past the classes at Footscray Community Art Centre. Yesterday we were lucky enough to review the Music for Toddlers class. The class is an educational and fun session for little ones aged 1 -3. Kids play drums, bang spoons, cluck like chickens, dance and shake rattles.
Learning is best when you don’t even know it is happening because you are having fun. Music for Toddlers is a stellar example of this. Kids are introduced to counting, musical beats, lyrical structures and singing. Much of the learning however, is covert, little ones learn how to listen, how to follow instructions, co-ordination, sharing and helping. As a teacher myself, I was pleased to see vocabulary learning interwoven into the lesson. Students learn about opposite words through kinesthetic learning. When instructed to sing softly or loudly, drum quickly or slowly, they are able to enact, see and hear the differences in the words.
While most of the kids were aged 1 -3, some had younger siblings in the class as well. Our 10 month olds, although a bit too small to take part in some of the activities, had a great time bopping to the music and watching the other kids. The beats are refreshingly adult friendly, and are catchy but not annoying. We left with very tired, but happy babies and with a few more songs in our repertoire to sing at home.
Music for Toddlers, Footscray Community Art Centre
DATE & TIME Every Tuesday, 29 April – 25 June 9:30 am – 10:15am and 10:30 – 11:15am Every Wednesday, 29 April – 25 June 9:30 am – 10:15am and 10:30 AGES: 1 – 3 yearsCOST: $20 per session (includes a free coffee at Happy River Cafe), $140 per term (8 sessions).
Class runs as a drop in session. No bookings required though there’s a limit of 15 families per session. Full term pass available, click here to book.
MAKING BRIDGES 