March 16, 2010 12:56 PM
Music and early childhood - expand their horizons!
So important to remember what Maria Montessori said - that our job is to give the world to children before they are six.
What this refers to is Montessori's theory (based on her research and work with children) that the child's sensitive periods for learning all occur before the age of six. Whatever the child is exposed to at that time provides a foundation for joyful learning later in childhood and all their lives.
What this means for us as parents is that we face a challenge: do we simply teach children what we know about or do we expand our own horizons so that we can give them a bigger world than we grew up with ourselves? This is very dear to my heart, as coming from a culturally-deprived background I made an early decision to continue growing - particularly in the area of the arts - so as to give my children a richer foundation.
That was 40 years ago and today I can attest to the fact that enriching your children's early experience with art, music, film and theater will give them a broader outlook and help them make better choices.
In the area of music, I believe it was my children's exposure to all kinds of music - not just the kind I listened to when I was younger - that revealed their own God-given gifts (I have a few who are singers) but also gave them an ability to make good choices as teens - not becoming bogged down in rap, soft porn and broken heart wailing, but opting for Indie, sacred music, classic rock, Broadway, classical - and even opera.
Part of this enriched musical environment may mean ratcheting up your own choices. I had never heard an opera until I was in my late 20's. Now I can appreciate many with my grown-up children and understand how a shared appreciation like this enriches not just our individual souls but our family bonds.
If this idea resonates with you, here is a collection of possibilities - all geared specifically to children - but remember, they can be surrounded with the grown-up stuff too:
Posted in Montessori, Mothering, Music | Permalink
Comments
Discovered your blog a few months ago. As a homeschool mom of four children, I greatly appreciate what you share. We listen to a variety of music all day, classical, instrumental piano, hymns, folk, fun kid tunes as well. I found a unique internet radio station called Pandora that allows you to create your own stations with the "seed" songs you choose. Pandora finds music of similar type/quality based on the seeds you choose. We listen all day and love the variety and ease of options (no cd's). Worth a try!
Posted by: Lisa | March 17, 2010 1:55 AM
Hi Barbara,
I can attest to the truth here as an adult who grew up with such a variety. I grew up with 20s, 30s, 40s, (grandparents), Broadway, Rock&Roll oldies, country, dixieland jazz, standards, kids and Christian (mom), classical, (dad), and classic rock (older brothers). That variety I believed helped me to be open to other quality music, including my husband's non-mainline Christian. Even my younger brother who got into harder rock still uses discretion with musical quality and lyrics, and mixes it up with blues, opera, and classical. Not one of us appreciates rap both for the offensive lyrics and lack of actual musical quality.
It it true, and I am thoroughly enjoying passing the same love of music to my own kids!
Posted by: Kate | March 17, 2010 10:04 AM
