It Is Fascinating How Children Learn From Each Other
Have you ever looked at your baby’s face and into their sweet eyes and wondered, “What’s going on in that little mind of yours?”
Well, except for the obvious things like they are thirsty, they’re hungry, or they need a diaper change, we don’t always know.
But, one thing I do know is that your baby is learning all the time. They’re especially learning from you.
But, it’s also fascinating how children learn from each other.
Very often, parents don’t always think about finding learning opportunities for their baby.
You know, I get it. I had two little ones 18 months apart. You are so busy taking care of the everyday stuff. On some days, it just wears you out!
But, let me share with you about a program that will help you and your child grow and learn together.
Then, you don’t have to wonder if your baby is learning the things that they need to know.
Now I know what you’re thinking, “Susan! I don’t have time to do one more thing!”
However, I’d like to give you some reasons this program will be worth the time and effort for your baby and you.
I’d like to tell you about “Your Musical Baby” Class. It’s a one-hour, interactive program for babies ages newborn to 3 years old and their parents.
It’s based on the Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE) philosophy of the Japanese teacher, violinist, and philosopher Dr. Shinichi Suzuki.
“Your Musical Baby” Class Is a Place Where Children Learn From Each Other
The main reason you should consider “Your Musical Baby” Class is that your baby will learn many skills through enjoyable musical activities in a non-stressful way.
Now, your baby is learning all the time. They’re especially taking in all the action and information around them. That’s why it’s important to give your baby opportunities to participate in various types of activities.
They need to see adults and older children model life skills and good behaviors for them.
Fascinated With Learning
When I began my Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE) teacher training, I was so fascinated by the facts and the evidence of how the activities helped the babies develop and grow.
It was fascinating to watch the children learn from each other. Not only that, it was fascinating to see that parents and teachers learned as much as the babies. Sometimes, we may have learned even more!
“Your Musical Baby” Class can give you and your baby the chance to learn life skills through music.
Parents learn about listening, music, literacy, and parenting. You will learn many new things and how to model them for your baby.
“Your Musical Baby” Classes and activities are also a time for your baby to learn about getting along with others.
The activities provide natural ways for your child to learn social skills and form relationships.
“Your Musical Baby” Class is designed with a family group atmosphere in mind. So, it is child-centered and it allows you and your baby to learn, again, in a non-stressful way.
“Your Musical Baby” Class activities are also very flexible. So, I as the teacher, can adapt the activities to follow your child’s learning timetable.
That way, there is never any pressure on you or your child to do any activity. It’s okay for them to watch you or me or the other children model the activity until they’re ready and confident to do it themselves.
Modeling Skills and Behaviors
I really trust this process of modeling the activities and skills. I model for the parents. Parents model for their own children.
The older children get especially excited to model for the younger babies. They like to show what they can do.
The young babies will want to imitate the older ones. The children are always learning from others.
All of the children also are learning to listen carefully. Now, as your baby listens to the words of a rhyme or a song, they are learning a couple of fascinating things.
The first is they will also begin to listen for directions that are given. Secondly, their attention span will grow longer as well.
These are two things that especially appeal to a parent! All this comes together to help your baby to learn language skills.
There Is a Skill in that Musical Activity!
Every “Your Musical Baby” Class activity has a skill for your baby to learn.
One of the musical activities will help your baby learn to keep a steady beat.
Another activity helps them to learn to wait and anticipate striking an instrument on a particular beat.
Another activity will teach your child the concept of up and down.
Many of the activities involve different movements, changing directions, and playing other instruments.
These are all important for helping your baby to learn spatial awareness. In other words, they’re becoming aware of their surroundings and where they are in those surroundings.
So as you model these activities for your baby, you are teaching them the activity itself. More importantly, you are helping them develop their body and their brain as well.
As you can see, there are physical and brain development activities that that will be a benefit to your baby.
It’s Fascinating How Children Learn Many Other Skills From Each Other
But, babies also learn social, emotional, and life skills. Circle songs teach your little one cooperation and getting along with others.
Some activities teach self-control. The children learn to wait their turn. Sometimes, they may not get a turn at all on a particular activity. They learn to deal with that as well.
Of course, little babies probably really don’t understand about taking turns. But, one day they will and it will be to their benefit to learn early by watching others take turns.
By far, though, the most important “Your Musical Baby” Class benefit to you and your baby will be learning empathy. It is that ability to sense and feel what another person is feeling.
The older children develop empathy for the little ones in class. The younger babies see them model empathy. Parents develop empathy towards each other.
There can be a class where, sometimes, your child may not want to participate. They won’t do the things that we know they can do. You’ve done it many, many times at home But, possibly your child (or even you) may get upset.
That’s when this silent communication between parents is very important. Parents need to model empathy toward each other when these kinds of things happen with their children.
There are activities that require the children to share. For instance, rolling a ball to each other or passing a small stuffed animal are just two examples of the activities.
The Truly Fascinating Part of How Children Learn From Each Other
Even the babies will want to keep hold of the ball or the animal. But, again, they see others sharing. Then, they also learn to do the same.
The “Your Musical Baby” Class activities can help your baby learn to share from their heart. They will want to share because it’s the right thing to do and not just because it’s “the rule”.
Your child will see the joy on another’s face when they share. They’re going to find the joy for themselves when they do.
You will also learn to encourage the development of your baby’s character and personality. Both you and your child will learn how to form relationships with others.
However, the most important relationship formed will be the deeper relationship between you and your baby.
Beautiful Hearts and High Ability
Dr Suzuki had a great wish for all the children of the world and their parents. He hoped that, through learning music, you and your baby will develop beautiful hearts and high ability together.
So, model empathy, co-operation, generosity, kindness, and lifelong learning for your child to imitate. Our world is in desperate need of people with those traits and skills. I encourage you and your child to go out into the world and be those people.
I’d like to leave you with something Dr Suzuki said.
“Thoughtful parents, for the sake of their children, seek to make their own hearts true and to illuminate the best paths for living which is the real way to love.”
Shinichi Suzuki
Begin Your Beautiful Heart Musical Journey
I’d like to give you and your baby an opportunity to experience becoming lifelong learners together, learning from and with others, and developing a deeper relationship with each other through musical activities.
Special Invitation to Attend an ONLINE “Your Musical Baby” Class for FREE!
I invite you and your baby to observe an online “Your Musical Baby” Class for FREE on any Saturday morning. Now, I know you’re a busy parent, so I’ve made it super easy for you to attend the class.
All you have to do is use the “Busy Parent” link below to sign up. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive the details and the zoom link to to the class in an email.
So don’t wait! Sign up now and you and your baby can begin your “Beautiful Heart Musical Journey” today! I’ll look for you in the next Saturday class.
Comments
In the Comments below, share how you see your baby learning from you and other children. What kinds of activities do you do with your baby?
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