Developing our series on using singing in developmental activities, we look at the older “babies” this month, 12-18 months old. While still very dependent on adult support and provision, little ones at this age are beginning to do things independently and practice new skills. And they love singing and dancing to music!
Physically, they are able to walk up and down stairs when holding hands, even beginning to run. They can use their fingers to explore objects like knobs and dials, and may even begin to show a hand preference (may not be fixed at this stage).
Socially, 12-18m old children start to become self-aware. They show signs of being able to feel shame or embarrassment, gradually showing signs of feeling envy and empathy. Children under two begin to learn about stress from people around them, and begin to adapt to the parenting style in which they are being raised.
These older toddlers are beginning to recognise differences between people, love copying, and love repeating actions as they learn about their environment. They also start to copy words and learn the names of familiar people and objects.
This is a general list of skills that many 12-18 month children start to show:
- Start walking
- Want to do more things independently
- Find their security in their parents
- Can have a jealous temper
- Enjoy teaching
- Can begin to show shame
- Show that they can comprehend
- Begin to use 2-3 word sentences
- Enjoy imitation
- Create a beat intentionally
- Understand sharing
- Enjoy mirror play
Songs and games can help to support these important milestones, with a few examples included below:
Down Came My Friend
Down came my friend and
Down came two
Down came Harry’s friend
And he was dressed in blue
Originally based on a traditional ballad of Virginia, this song can be used in a few ways. Children walk around independently for the first line, and then find another child to hold hands and walk together for the rest of the song. It could be further extended by having the children name the colours of their clothes at the end. This activity encourages social skills, communication skills, language development and collaboration.
This song could also be used as a “duck-duck-goose” game, with children sitting in a circle while one walks on the outside and taps a child with the required colour. This format can become quite repetitive, depending on the experience of the group, so finding new ways for all children to play can be preferable.
Musically, the notes are far apart enough to be heard and sung distinctly, and it has a skipping beat, giving a light-hearted, enjoyable feel.
One Finger One Thumb Keep Moving
One finger, one thumb, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, keep moving
We’ll all be merry and bright.
One finger, one thumb, one arm, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, keep moving
We’ll all be merry and bright.
One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg, keep moving
We’ll all be merry and bright.
One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg,
one nod of the head, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg,
one nod of the head, keep moving
One finger, one thumb, one arm, one leg,
one nod of the head, keep moving
We’ll all be merry and bright.
Little ones continue to become more confident with movement and controlling their limbs. This lovely little song helps to highlight and reinforce their new abilities, providing the opportunity to practice and show off their growing independence. Later on, this song can be and is often used with older children as a memory development song, adding a new limb/movement in each verse. However, at 12-18 months, little ones love to imitate, so will eagerly copy the actions of people they know and trust.
Musically this song uses a skipping beat, often used in children’s music for its bright, light and cheery feel. In addition, it used 6/8 timing, which is more of a rocking rhythm than marching (2/4 timing). This combination imitates the natural rhythms that little ones have already experienced and associated with feeling safe and happy, namely, mum’s heartbeat (du-du, du-du …) and the back-and-forth swaying in amniotic fluid before birth, and being rocked as a comforting movement after birth. This makes learning a pleasurable experience that can be developed into a more advanced activity.
As we now know, children are not born into the world as “empty vessels” waiting to be filled, but as complete people with existing knowledge, as well as the remarkable ability to learn a lot in a short space of time. So, using pre-birth experiences of rhythm and post-birth physical limb development, this song builds on both of these skills.
Where Is Baby
Where, oh, where, oh, where is baby
Where, oh, where, oh, where is baby
Where, oh, where, oh, where is baby
Where can baby be
Boo!
This song is a wonderful scarf game, but as little ones this age particularly enjoy mirror-play, this can be combined with baby-proof mirrors. Sing along to/with baby while hiding under scarves or even hiding the mirror under scarves, and then ending with revealing you, baby, or the mirror, when singing BOO!
Musically, this tune is used quite often in children’s shows and other songs, like “In and Out the Dusty Bluebells”. Being so well-known, it is also fairly easy to learn to sing, with notes far apart enough to hear clearly and sing separately.
Toddlers 12-28 months are at a lovely, inquisitive age. They are developing new skills and get excited about everything new. Their joy and excitement is contagious, and sharing music turns learning into a magical experience!
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