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3/23/20 blog post

moving and grooving! why music and movement are good for the brain!

By: Lindsey Steinbrunner, MT-BC, board-certified music therapist

As our community continues to explore ways to keep kids active as they are not in school, it’s important to think of how to include music in the mix! Why should you incorporate music with movement? Check out the graphic to the right from International Arts + Mind Lab which shows where different aspects of music are processed in the brain. When moving with music, you are incorporating several areas of the brain including the motor cortex, sensory cortex, auditory cortex, and cerebellum.

Activity: Show your kids this image and talk about music and the brain! Ask them questions such as:

  1. How does music make you feel?
  2. What songs make you energized?
  3. When do you like to listen to music?

Try these fun, movement-based songs to keep kids active. All of these musicians have many great songs to keep kids moving, so look beyond what is suggested as well!

  1. I Like to Dance by Patty Shukla
  2. Jumping Popcorn by Bob Zoom
  3. Listen and Move by Greg and Steve
  4. Move It, Move It by Stephanie Leavell
  5. Move it to the Music by Margie La Bella
  6. Parts of the Body Song by Have Fun Teaching
  7. Rock Your Body to the Colors by Jack Hartmann
  8. Shake Your Sillies Out by Raffi
  9. Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill
  10. We are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner

Oh...and don’t forget the classics!

  1. Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
  2. The Hokey Pokey
  3. If You’re Happy and You Know It
  4. Tony Chestnut
  5. The Wheels on the Bus

Think of combining gym and music class into one! That’s a great way to be an efficient home-schooling parent!

updates on COVID-19

Please use our coronavirus information hub for resources and answers to frequently asked questions about Dayton Children's response to COVID-19. You can also call our COVID-19 parent hotline at 1-888-746-KIDS (5437) from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm for additional questions. 

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