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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 6 Volume II, Issue XIX October 1, 2000 The Sound of Music and Moving to Music This article is provided courtesy of Old Firehouse Child Care from the FamilyFriendly Communications for Early Childhood Programs—NAEYC. Kids of all ages are naturally drawn to music. Infants coo at lullabies, toddlers bang on pots and pans with a wooden spoon, and preschoolers sing and dance to music. Children learn a variety of skills from musical experiences. Shaking, tapping, and beating instruments enhance fine motor development. Children listening for a beat, the sounds of different instruments, tones, and lyrics are developing auditory discrimination. Kids can experience the emotional effects of music by listening to and creating music that is soothing, exciting, or funny. Music promotes creative development as children experiment with new rhythms, sounds, and movements. To encourage your child’s exploration of music, you don’t have to buy expensive instruments. You can make several simple instruments at home. Kazoo—Let children decorate a toilet paper tube with construction paper and crayons. Help them put a square of wax paper over one end and secure with a rubber band. Blow through the open end while humming a tune. Tambourine—Give the child two sturdy, luncheon-sized paper plates. Place a small quantity of dried beans or rice in one plate, then glue the plates together and allow to dry. The child can decorate with crayons, paints, and scraps of ribbon or other material. Shake the tambourine with one hand or tap it on the heel of the other hand. Drum—Help the child cover the outside of a two-pound coffee can with heavy construction paper and decorate as desired. Replace the lid of the can and beat with hands or spoons. Sand blocks—Sand two small pieces of scrap wood to prevent splinters. Help your child glue coarse-grit sandpaper onto one side of each block. Rub the blocks together to make noise. Young children are natural dancers. Even infants bounce up and down to the beat of music. Enjoyable and natural as it is, creative movement helps children learn many concepts. It teaches them balance and coordination through challenging moves and postures. It teaches rhythm and beat as children choreograph their movements with music. It even promotes children’s ability to predict what comes next by hearing repeated musical phrases. Creative movement is also an important tool for developing children’s self-esteem and body awareness. It’s easy to engage children in dance and creative movement. Just move with them. Kids love dancing with their families. Turn on the radio or put on your old tapes or records and enjoy singing and dancing together. Add to the experience by using movement props. Sheer or silky scarves are fun to use when dancing. These can be found at local thrift shops or dime stores. Streamers are also great fun for children. Just glue ribbon or paper streamers to short pieces of dowel rods. Rhythm sticks, used to keep time with the beat of the music, also can be made at home. Foot-long lengths of dowel rod can be sanded smooth and painted or left bare. Try creative movement with your child. Play different kinds of music to expand the experience. This is a wonderful way to have fun together—and even to get some exercise! Note: For birthday or Christmas gift ideas for children, why not consider purchasing small children’s instruments from a local music store, where you can find a wide selection of items such as symbols, triangles, kazoos, chimes, xylophones, recorders, etc. Even a metronome is a fun idea, to help children learn about rhythm. You may also want to consider a selection of classical tapes or CDs that can be found at rather inexpensive prices. Halloween Party! On Humor By Janet Hoffmann I walked into Iverson Dental today. One of the workers (the name isn’t mentioned to protect the innocent, even though she doesn’t need protection— I’m a helicopter friend—what can I say) walked up to me and said something like, “You look awful! I can’t believe you came here looking like that!” Was I offended? No. Would you be offended? Let me share with you why she said this before you decide. I had forgotten about my appointment. When she called to see why I hadn’t arrived I explained to her that my mind was boggled, my dad had just been released from the hospital after getting a feeding tube in his stomach. Today was my first day alone with this new situation—my appointment never crossed my mind. She understood my dilemma and told me that if I could get to the office within five minutes, I could keep my appointment. I said I would be right in, but I’d look a mess. I was in my jogging outfit, I had exercised but not showered, and I had bed head and dragon breath. In order to get there in five minutes I had to leave right then, so I thought a warning might be in order. The woman on the phone assured me the office wouldn’t mind. So this same woman made the comment in question. I’m guessing that she wanted to have some fun and put me at ease. It worked for me. Would it have worked for you? Some could say, ”Her comments drew attention to me because, then, everyone looked at me, causing further embarrassment.” To me, I had already drawn attention to myself looking the way I did, and when the comment was made, then everyone knew I was embarrassed about the way I looked, and could now move on and relax. When is making a joke appropriate? I say any time as long as you aren’t hurting others. Now here’s the predicament—how can you tell what will hurt others before the damage is done? I love to tease and I love others to tease me in good taste. But what is good taste? I’m not easily offended so even when I’m teased in poor taste, I usually don’t take it personally. However I realize others may. When my dad was in the hospital and not doing well, the way we gauged his progress was by the amount of joking and smiling he dished out. We enjoyed it because the biggest joke of his hospital stay was when the hospital staff thought his Alzheimer’s was worse than it was. For instance, one time a speech therapist was talking to him about football. Dad told her he cheers for BYU. She said, “But I teach at the U of U.” Dad said, “ I didn’t know they had a football team.” Another time he hollered to my mom, “Louise, get me out of jail.” I even thought he was confused that time but when I questioned him, he said that the hospital bed looked like a jail and he wanted to get out of bed. My dad’s humor is so endearing to me. It makes taking care of him fun. It makes gross situations bearable. Like Father like daughter! I love to tease but I know I have offended people without meaning to. So what do I do? Quit being humorous? I couldn’t make it through this life being serious all the time. So I try not to insult or be insulted. I’ve learned to give someone a little humor when they look unhappy, but if they are unhappy with you, keep your funny comments to yourself. Never tease a mad person, especially if you are related. Also, laugh with others. Last but not least, and most importantly, laugh at yourself—you are pretty funny, whether you know it or not. Tu/! Gmpsfodf! Dbuipmjd! Dpnnvojuz MASSES: Saturday: 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 9:00 a.m. WEEKDAY MASS: Tuesday: 6:30 p.m. followed by The Rosary Phone: 745-LORD Huntsville, Utah PASTORAL ADMINISTRATOR: Fr. Charles Cummins 399-9531 RECONCILIATION: 30 minutes before Mass Come celebrate with us God’s good news. Intersection of Highway 39 & Snowbasin Road THINK OF THE FUTURE Costume Contest! Join us for fun, games, scary stories and prizes. (Everyone who comes in costume will receive a prize.) Monday, October 30 at 5:00 p.m. at the Ogden Valley Library. Call 745-2220 for more information. The Ogden Valley Land Trust a non-profit organization For more information Call (801) 745-2048 |