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New Year often brings new resolutions as we evaluate what has gone well or could be improved in our lives. The day on which travel agents have found that most people look for or book holidays is now unofficially called “Blue Monday”, coinciding with the end of festivities, and the return to school and work. […]
Sing Away the Blues: The Power of Music on Mental Health in the Early Years Read More »
Creativity has such a natural place in the early years that it is almost at risk of being overlooked. It is also one of the characteristics that some philosophers consider unique to humanity. The ability to create has been shown to reduce symptoms of distress in situations and conditions where people feel out of control,
Imagination and Expression in the Arts using Music in the Early Years Read More »
Literacy skills are fundamental to higher level skills like planning, critical thinking, problem solving and socio-emotional development. It all begins with fine motor skills like holding a pencil effectively, listening to stories and being able to retell them while anticipating events and consequences, recognising sounds and word shapes, and finally, forming letters and/or words that
Building Successful Literacy Skills In The Early Years Through Music Read More »
Self-regulation is one of the early learning goals under Personal, Social and Emotional Development. The Early Years Foundation Stage suggests that children will show an understanding of their own and others’ feelings; work towards goals; wait for what they want; focus their attention while following instructions. But why is self-regulation so important and what environments
Music and Self-Regulation in the Early Years Read More »
Listening is a skill that is fundamental to learning. It is necessary to develop listening before speaking, writing and reading skills can be introduced, so this is especially important in the preschool years. The ability to listen covers a variety of skills beyond hearing, including the ability to pay attention and understand. These skills all
Using Music to Develop Listening, Attention and Understanding As An ELG Read More »
Many songs are written about and inspired by relationships. From classical to pop, hiphip to RnB, first loves, unrequited loves, and ending loves dominate the lists. It is not clear whether this is because song-writers are more inspired by relationships or whether their audiences relate more to relationships. Ultimately, people prioritise relationships above many other
Music and Building Relationships in the Early Years Read More »
Children are fascinated with the natural world and gladly spend hours watching (and trying to play with) the creatures and environments around them – usually when we least have time! By creating opportunities for children to explore insects, plants and animals around them, we allow them to discover their own hidden interests and abilities. The
Music and Understanding the World in the Early Years: The Natural World Read More »
This area of the early years curriculum involves children describing their environment using stories, non-fiction books and maps. Most religious and cultural celebrations can be introduced and shared at the appropriate time of year, like Chinese New Year in January/February, Passover in March/April and Diwali in October/November. This article considers the ways that children are
Music and Understanding the World in the Early Years: People, Cultures and Communities Read More »
Raising children involves sharing our everyday experiences with them. We gradually introduce them to situations which they may face one day, providing them with skills for independent, successful lives. By relating to children’s everyday experiences, it is possible to broadly cover the goals of history, geography and science, even in the early years. Howard Gardner’s
Music and Understanding the World in the Early Years: Past and Present Read More »
As society progresses, more activities are moving online. As a result, physical activity is becoming a hot topic for all ages, and even more so during times of restriction like lockdown. Long gone are the days for most families where children were turfed out of the house in the morning, only to be seen again
