singing and music as aids to language development..

Here's a great article on singing and music as aids to language development and its relevance for children with Down Syndrome, written by Judith Barker, a music teacher and parent of a daughter with Down Syndrome.

Read the whole article by clicking here.

Some of my favorite excerpts:

"Singing and making music are among the most enjoyable learning activities for children. Because they have both elements - enjoyment and learning - I consider them to be essential methods of reinforcing basic skills in numeracy and literacy. While this reinforcement is useful to all children, regardless of their academic abilities, my own experiences in the classroom and as the mother of a child with Down syndrome tell me that it is vital to children with learning difficulties."

"Singing in groups or in class also involves co-operation, especially when children are sharing ideas and activities. Not only does this lay the foundations for future team work, it also encourages children to listen to each other, to learn from each other and to value each other's ideas."