Balance..... And The Vestibular System.. Teething and all that jazz

Hello there Mommies and Daddies.. This is our wonderful String Bean Circus. 

We perform in the summers at different venues and your little one is now an honorary Member...

It was great to meet more wonderful parents who love giving the gift of music to their kids.

Just being there and experiencing this magic with others is such an amazing loving exchange...

We love your in our family.

There were a lot of things we covered in our classes this week.

Loud and Soft 

High and Low.

Slow Stop and Fast

Adagio (slow)  , Allegro ( Fast ) and Andante ( Walking Pace )

Did you know that when you label the motions and movement you do with your child you are teaching them so much more..

Just imagine your with someone who speaks a different language then you.

The more you participate in a language from a different county .. the faster you start to speak it..

This is the same way babies learn to talk.

First they realize they recognize a word and that it has a meaning..

Then they recognize what the meaning is...after they do it.

Yes Children learn by doing then speaking. This s a proven fact.

So when you are walking with your baby... You can say Label things such as..

Do you like this ball. Can you throw the ball.  

Your walking so fast..

Can you sit down fast

Lets clean these toys up really fast...

This labeling really does make a difference.

They have done studies with children who came from families where they were not held or stimulated to action or to speak. These same babies grew up as slow learners as well as experiencing a sense of feeling uncomfortable in society as an initiator. 

Giving children the time to try to speak the sound of Old Mac Donalds Farm animals or to Say the words to the Story Silly Mouse.. is part of the lessons included in this months ABC Music and Me.

The stories all rhyme offering the opportunity for the child to memorize the story and to say the words out loud...I encourage to explore your home magazines with your children. They have many fantastic ideas of fun activities and make the songs on your cd's come alive as well.

I do not know any parent who can say they are satisfied with the amount of time they spent with their children when they were young.. there was never ever enough time.. cherish these next few years ,, they go by faster then you can imagine...

Thank you for sharing the beauty and love of your child with us at the Muse...

Primary Lesson Focus for Village and ABC Music and Me. 

Up and down ,

Sitting and Standing

Dancing and Stopping

Listening and repeating...

All of these exercises are part of a demonstration in the importance of Stimulating the Vestibular System .

Here are some notes from Kindermusik international on the this very topic...

What is the Vestibular

System?

The vestibular system controls one’s

sense of movement and balance. It

integrates the sensory inputs that give

us information about gravity and

motion, our body’s muscular

movements, and our body’s position in

space.

Your baby’s vestibular system is

developing minute by minute and can

be stimulated by movements that move

her head off center (always safely

supported, of course). These

movements might be performed by her

alone (e.g. rolling), but many times

they also occur while she is being

moved by you—in your arms or in a

stroller (e.g. tipping, swinging,

swaying, turning, swooping, and

twisting). Try some with your child!

Rocking

As you rock—from center to one side

and the other, or forward and

backward—there are alternating

experiences of being on-balance and

off-balance. Such gentle motions

stimulate the vestibular system.

Rolling

Rolling is initiated from the center of

the body, with the body being propelled

in a prone state by the hips and torso. It

allows your baby to experience the

sensation of seeing the world from his

stomach and back all in one continuous

movement.

Bouncing

Gentle bouncing (always with Baby’s

head supported) stimulates the

vestibular system in many ways. It

keeps your baby alert and attentive and

it increases your baby’s muscle tone

when he has to adjust his posture and

position to stay upright. The surprise

element of the lift into the air or a

cradled fall backwards provides

immediate feedback to the vestibular

system so that your baby just has to

smile or giggle.

Do Try This at Home!

As you participate in these activities,

make sure that you support your baby’s

head and do not allow it to flop.

• Rock your baby as you listen and

hum to Sweetest Little Baby (Home

CD, track 7) . Not only is this good

for your baby’s vestibular system, but

it soothes as it provides gentle

rhythmic motion.

• Gently bounce Baby as you play

and sing Ride a Cock-Horse (Home

CD, track 8).

• Move about the room and house in

different directions and a variety of

ways. Baby will enjoy viewing the

house in all different manners. This

also develops his vision as he shifts

his focus from object to object.

• For older babies, rolling around on

the floor can be tons of fun and

provides lots of stimulation. You can

help your young baby gently roll

from side to side.

• Take your baby for a walk in her

stroller. Move the stroller in different

ways for fun and stimulation. Gently

push the stroller in curvy or zigzag

patterns and change directions and

speeds. 

≈

Children’s Sense of

Balance

“From conception to the first fifteen

months after birth, the vestibular

system is very active as a child gains a

sense of gravity and knowledge of the

physical environment through

movement. Every movement of the child

stimulates the vestibular system, which

stimulates the brain for new learning.

From this sensory ‘wake up’ and basal

understanding of gravity, a child is able

to perform the most remarkable feats of

balance.”

–Smart Moves, by Carla Hannaford,

pp. 35-36.