Our music and movement program aims to use music as a catalyst for learning … for really lighting up the brain, using many different activities with a variety of learning outcomes.
All pre-schoolers growing up now, are growing up in the age of information. It’s an age where technology, digital relationships and screens are the order of the day! Is it possible that “softer skills” are being lost in the wake of digital relationships forged on social media?
In the future, many of the job opportunities that are open to our children now, will have been replaced by technology. So, this must affect the way that children are educated now!
However, softer skills, like empathy, teamwork and building relationships are skills that cannot be replaced by computers. Recent thinking suggests that perhaps these skills require even more focus and preparation now!
Because of the effect that music has on EMOTIONS … we can use our program to tap into social skills, at a very basic level and build from there.
I had the privilege of visiting one of our partner schools iThemba, in Fish Hoek yesterday. We present our program to all of the children there each week.
These children all come from disadvantaged, socio-economic backgrounds – iThemba School’s mission is to provide a safe space and solid educational foundation for them every day. www.ithembaschool.org
Our GRADE R program this term “A Day in my Life” encourages the children to think through a typical day – we use the concept of time to do this (both in life and music) …
One of our original W&R songs in this program, “Stretch up high”, teaches the children some basic social skills when greeting and engaging with each other … listen to it here …
[Music track taken from our GROWING TOGETHER story CD – more info at www.wriggleandrhyme.co.za/our-music]
Stretch up high, reach for the sky …
Smile at your friends and look them in the eye …
Shake someone’s hand and say “hello”!
Look at these gorgeous girls singing and participating so beautifully.
They are learning so much and having so much fun … blissfully unaware that a fireworks display is going on in their brains!