Excellent Music Time Activity Plan for Parents and Babies
In this post, you’ll learn all about a simple, but excellent music time activity plan for parents and their babies. Do you struggle to find daily activities to do with your baby or toddler that really matter and are worth your time? This music time activity plan can help parents like you to make the most out of the time that you spend with your child.
Most often, parents really don’t have a plan for the activities they would like to do with their baby or toddler when they do spend time together. If you have this problem, then you are not alone! I get it! It can be over whelming to think about those things with everything else that a parent has to do. So, we’re going to break down how to easily plan music time activities that matter to you and your baby.
Make a Plan for Music Time
Let me show you an easy plan for music time activities to do so that you don’t have to spend your precious time trying to figure it all out on your own. Now, you might be thinking that you don’t even have time to check out this plan. But, I promise you that it’s simple and it will get easier as you put it into your daily routine. So stick with me!
I’d like to tell you about some of the “Your Musical Baby” Class activities. The plan I’ll share with you and some of these activities will help you and your child to have a music time together that will help you both learn and grow together.
Best Advice for Making Your Music Time Plan
First, I’d like to share with you the best advice that I ever got about making music a part of my daily routine. One of my violin teachers gave me a simple plan to follow. I listed the things that I needed to practice. Then, I set a timer and I spent a certain amount of time on each item. This idea works and I have built a consistent practice routine around it.
The beauty of this plan is that when life happens and I don’t get to practice, it is always there. Now I may miss a few days of practice here and there. But when I pick up my violin again, I just work my plan. It’s almost, but not quite, like I never stopped practicing.
Now, you and your baby are going to be more flexible with your plan. You don’t need to set a timer for every single thing you do. Well, except maybe set a timer to remind yourself to have music time! But, it’s still worthwhile to have a plan. That way you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every day.
Your “Beautiful Heart Musical Journey” Plan
Listening Plan
So, here are the steps to the “Beautiful Heart Musical Journey” plan for you and your baby. The first step in your music time plan is to listen. Check out my blog post about Dr. Shinichi Suzuki’s special listening list. He chose these musical selections because they especially appealed to babies and toddlers.
These pieces of music are full of melodies. They’re simple in form and harmonic structure. There’s nothing loud or jarring about them. Most of these are available online free for listening or you can purchase and download them as well.
Choose one of these pieces from Dr. Suzuki’s list and listen to it several times a day. It is good to schedule at least one particular time during the day to listen with your little one. Maybe before nap time, after it, or whenever works best for your schedule. If you schedule it, you are more likely to do it and make it a part of your routine.
The truth is, it can be done almost any time. The beauty of it is all you really have to do is push a button. Now, I know, if you’re like me, you can get so distracted that it can be hard to remember to push the button. (Ask me how I know!) But, it became easier to remember to push that button and play the music because I had scheduled it. Then, it was easier to remember to play the music at other times during the day as well.
“Lullabies, Action Songs, & Rhymes”
Another listening resource that I would especially recommend is “Lullabies, Action Songs, and Rhymes” produced by JonesPartnerships. The songs and rhymes are divided into Week 1 and Week 2 on these YouTube links. You can also purchase and download them as well. Regardless, these are good for repeated listening.
They will help you learn the words more quickly and make your musical experience more enjoyable. The added bonus is that your baby will be absorbing a lot of language. Choose one of the lullabies. Push the button. Play it for your baby as they fall asleep.
Listen to the entire set of songs as often as possible. But, also choose one piece and play it repeatedly for your baby. However, I do have a special alert for you! You may get tired of hearing the same piece of music over and over. But, your baby will NOT because babies learn through repetition.
As you continue to listen to “Lullabies, Action Songs, and Rhymes”, you will begin to know more songs. You can sing to your little one especially at playful moments, just before nap time, or anytime. This brings us to the next step in your music time plan.
Singing Plan
It is very important to sing and I do mean sing your heart out! Again, schedule just a few minutes during the day to sing to your baby. Sing songs you know. This is the perfect time to sing the songs from “Lullabies, Action Songs, and Rhymes”.
You know, it doesn’t have to be perfect. If you know the tune, but not the words, make up your own words! I did it all the time with my kids. Hey! Go ahead and make up your own tune and your own words if you want to! Babies aren’t critics! They just know that their sweet parent is singing to them, loving them, and spending time with them.
Read Aloud Plan
Then, your final step in your plan is to read, read, read, to your baby at every possible opportunity. When you expose your baby to the printed page, the pictures, and the sound of your voice, it all works together to give your baby the foundation that they need to learn to think, speak, read, and write.
As you read, you will begin to learn what attracts your child’s attention and how they respond to the story. Reading, as a part of music time. will also help your child to listen and to sing as well. As I just mentioned, you should read to your baby at every opportunity. Again, if you schedule reading time, you are more likely to actually do it. Maybe it can be just before nap time, right after a feeding, or a meal if your child is no longer a tiny infant.
reading together a part of their Music Time activity plan.
Parents, Put Together Your Excellent Music Time Activity Plan
So begin with these three steps: listening, singing, and reading. Actually write down on your calendar, planner, daily to-do list, or even that scrap paper that you scribble notes to yourself WHEN you want to do these three activities. Treat them like you would any other appointment that you make. If you made an appointment with the doctor or a hair stylist, you usually make sure that you’re going to be there.
Now, I know that babies “do what they want” and they really aren’t interested in “your schedule”! But, do your best to keep an appointment to spend time with your baby. It is the most important appointment you are ever going to keep.
As you keep those appointments with your baby, you will find yourself listening, singing, and reading together. You probably will probably find yourself having music time many times during the day. It will just become what you and your baby expect to do together.
Make “Your Musical Baby” Class Part of Your Excellent Music Time Plan
I’d like to give you and your baby an opportunity to experience more “Your Musical Baby” Class activities. I invite you and your baby to to observe an ONLINE “Your Musical Baby” Class for FREE on any Saturday morning.
Now, I know that you’re a busy parent. So, I’ve made it as easy as possible to attend the class. Simply sign up with the Busy Parent Link below.
Once you’re signed up, you will receive the details and the Zoom link to the class in an email. So sign up now and you and your baby can begin your “Beautiful Heart Musical Journey” today.
I hope to see you and your baby in the next Saturday class!
On the “Beautiful Heart Musical Journey” with you,
Susan
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