Shake, Rattle and Rhyme follows a structure that I have found to work well with children 18 months to 4 years old. I have a predictable format so that children know what to expect and feel like they are a part of the "club" (so to speak). I also do it this way because it has a social evolving effect where the child plays with their parent, then does an activity they can do with the group, and finally an activity that calls for individuality and bravery. I know that sounds over the top, but watch a kid for about four sessions. If the child has had no preschool experience, they will usually sit at the back in their safety net for the first session (they may not make it through the first session at all), eventually the safety net stretches a bit and they go back and forth from parent to props. Finally their safety net envelops the whole group and they join in the middle, independent from their parental unit.
Shake, Rattle and Rhyme format:
- Hello Song
- Instrument Exploration- this section is pretty much the same every week. Children get to choose a percussion instrument that is placed in the middle of the floor.
- "Happy and you know it, play along"
- Slow to fast song with music
- Rhyme with rhythm
- Play along to music
- Musical statues
- "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain"
- Clean Up
- Movement-the activities in the section change every 3-4 weeks so that the activity is learned.
- "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.
- Movement song of the month.
- Parachute time
- Magic Bag- It never ceases to amaze me how much children love "Magic Bag." This activity is much more than singing and memorizing ageless rhymes and songs. The "Magic Bag" is filled with items that represent a common nursery song. In order to pick from it, the child must sit quietly and wait their turn. This is where you really get to see the kids who have profited from coming to sessions. You get to see the child in the back who is clinging to their parent become an individual as they slowly creep closer and closer so they can have a go. "Magic Bag" can also help children experience disappointment when they don't get the item they want or they don't get to choose first. I feel it is also good for the parent because they can observe and let their child be an individual and allow them to choose, solve conflict or ease their disappointment for themselves.
- Goodbye Song
Come by and see me wednsdays at 10:30 at the Kirkgate Centre, Shipley
