I wanted to share with you an article that I read this week from the PBS parents website. The article is called It Takes Two: The Roots of Language Learning by Rebecca Parlakian. You can read the entire article here. 

There is a lot of great information in this article, but what stood out to me most was Rebecca's point about how life can feel like it's on repeat when you have a young child in your care. In my previous emails and in class I have talked a lot of about the benefits of repetition and how it supports development. Rebecca goes on to say that this repetition of favorite songs, stories, or play with toys actually supports early language development. She shares a 2015 study that indicates that children whose parents repeated words more often had better language skills years later. This study's coauthor, Dr. Meredith L. Rowe, states "it is the quality of the input that matters most, not just the quantity." The study shows that how you talk to your child is just as important as the amount of words you say to your child. The more tuned in to language your child is as an infant, the more they are able to process and retain that information for later use. 

Dr. Rowe's statement really speaks to me as Sprouting Melodies Provider. We strive to provide quality music experiences for our families that are supportive of the child as a whole. As music therapists we are trained to respond in the moment to the behavior of the group. This may mean repeating a song three more times because one of the kids shook their maraca for the first time on that last repetition. Or it may mean ditching a song that just isn't meeting the stimulation needs of the group and introducing a higher energy song to provide that need for movement in a safe way. Music allows you to interact with, engage with, and respond to your child. In Sprouting Melodies, you are investing in your child's development while having much needed fun and bonding time with your little one. 

I'll see you in class,