Splashing Around- Scaffolding

Did you know scaffolding is not just that stuff they build around a construction site?  It's also the way children learn! 

From Kate Pavey, on the Kindermusik website:

"Scaffolding is something we often engage in during an Our Time class. The children are encouraged to explore an object or an instrument in their own way in whatever way they feel best. The parent or caregiver watches the child – and for the most part, imitates the child – while carefully introducing new elements and levels (like scaffolds) which the child can choose to explore.  

Entering the world of a child in this way can become totally absorbing and strangely relaxing. As we engage in this play with our children, we too begin to play and explore – perhaps suggesting new ways to play together, but never dictating that there is a right or wrong way to do something."

In Miss Lindsay's Wednesday Splash class, there was scaffolding all over the place with our drums. First the children hear the drum and the beat, they feel it, they see it, they explore the drums and imitate pounding it (and if they are babies they imitate by eating that yummy drum stick).  Older toddlers children will pound the drum, and finally they keep the beat they hear!

Eventually they'll create their OWN rhythm.  Miss Lindsay did a creative job of showing the beat by holding the drum for the baby to hit, and then gently removing it during the rests.  Did you know children who take Kindermusik classes  are able to imitate a beat correctly much younger than non-Kindermusik kids?

Miss Shannon's Splash class on Thursday are some lucky kids- many moms know ALL the songs and sing them out (I know you can't be sick of that CD on repeat in your car, right?).  We even have two year olds listening and then singing the right words on key in this class thanks to the example of their parents and Miss Shannon.  Impressive! I took so much fun video in this class there's not room to upload it all.