We all have an innate connection to music even if you find yourself hard-pressed to hum, much less sing, a song in key or if the thought of karaoke or “rock band” night with your friends sends you running the other way as fast as possible. How many of you can listen to your favourite song over and over again? Or, how often do you find certain tunes triggering feelings of nostalgia? How many times do you listen to music and find your mood affected? Can music make you feel happy? Sad? Empowered?
The impact of music is an amazing phenomenon, and while the emotional and healing value of music is widely recognized with adults, the power of melody and movement as a learning tool for young children is often undervalued by parents. As educators turned entertainers, we have dedicated our professional lives to connecting kids to the natural world through music, movement and make-believe.
In early childhood education circles, it is common knowledge that positive, age-appropriate experiences with music can have a research-proven impact on children’s learning, including social and emotional development, language and literacy skills, mathematics and pattern-recognition skills and even the ability to plan, guide and self-regulate behavior. If this isn’t enough encouragement for you to give playing or creating music with your children a try, the most important point is that it can also be a lot of fun!
Here are some simple ideas to try at home:
- Put on your favourite kiddie rock and let your baby bop!
- Make your own musical instruments with household items (get creative!) and build a family band!
- Sing a song or listen to music as part of a bedtime routine – the right song choice can be perfect for calming busy brains and bodies at the end of a long day!
- Write a family theme song – let everyone help with the lyrics no matter how silly they get. Choose a familiar tune (i.e. Twinkle Twinkle) as the melody.
- Encourage your preschoolers to make up their own dances and perform them for the rest of the family. This is a great way to promote physical activity and a wonderful creative outlet for your children!
Keep it simple and remember to have fun!
About Bobs & Lolo:
Bobs & Lolo are dedicated to connecting kids to the natural world with music, movement and make-believe. Sharing musical stories that engage, inspire and educate, they teach kids to care about themselves, their neighbours and the planet. Growing up together on Vancouver Island, Robyn Hardy (Bobs) and Lorraine Pond (Lolo) have always shared a love of the natural world and a passion for working with children. Creating the dynamic duo Bobs & Lolo has allowed these award-winning artists to combine their diverse academic backgrounds with a mutual love of teaching and the creative arts.
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You guys are such an inspiration your songs and music are just so refreshing and unique! My son 15 months can get enough of you!!…(I think he has a crush on Bobs
Do you plan on coming to Ottawa or Quebec??
Thx for your time!
Mandy
Hi Mandy,
We would LOVE to perform in Ottawa and Quebec sometime. Our musical adventures (travel wise) have thus far been pretty limited to Western Canada – hopefully, we can change that in the near future!
I’ll be sure to let Bobs know about your son’s crush…it’s hard for me to compete with that red hair!
Lolo
I think you are great, Bobs & Lolo! I’ve just moved to England and I miss you. Any plans to go international? I saw you at Science World, the Aquarium, Canada Place and West End neighborhood day. My mummy wanted to book you for my 5th birthday party, but you are now too famous/expensive
So we had to have a rubbish clown, I think you would have been much better. My friend Jake was lucky enough to have you entertain at his party 3 years ago. I just watched this video and then listened to your CD while I had dinner.
Glad to hear that you’ve enjoyed so many of our shows in the past. Sorry that we don’t get to see you at live performances anymore, but please feel free to spread some B&L love in England! Bobs has family there, and it’s long been a dream of ours to head over for some international gigs!
Feel free to check out some more of our music videos at http://www.youtube.com/bobsandlolo!
L.
I was just commenting to my husband that thanks to Bobs and Lolo I know all the birds of Canada, all about Sturgeon, how not to get eaten while surfing and am very interested in seahorses. I get choked up during Cindy Seahorse EVERY time. We are off to see you guys tomorrow night at the Aquarium – thank you for such great music for families!