Ms. Anahita Dhalla from our Dec 2021 cohort has designed this simple fun class activity using six bricks. This simple activity involves numbers, repetition and rhythm which is quite fun for children. In this article, understand how to execute this activity in your class and benefits of repetition and rhythm for children in early years.
how to execute this fun activity using six bricks?
- Each child needs a set of Six Bricks placed in front on them in any colour order.
- First let them repeat the numbers verbally. This is actually the lyric of this song – 1,1-2-1, 1-2-3-2-1, 1-2-3-4-3-2-1, 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 1-2-3-4-5-6-5-4-3-2-1. Make sure they repeat this for at least 5 times.
- Now let’s have the Six Bricks in front of them. Each brick starting from left to right is numbered from 1 to 6 (to be noted mentally by children).
- Children must use their index finger. Touch each brick from left to right and recite and numbers in forward and backward order.
- Now add some rhythm to this activity. If you have some musical instruments in your classroom then that will surely add a lot more fun.
Importance of repetition for young children
It’s very common for parents and teachers of young children to find themselves reading the same books, singing the same songs, enjoying same poems and following the same routines day after day.
Children have a high tolerance for repetition. In fact, many kids seem to require it and enjoy it too. While adults often crave new or novel experiences, children prefer repeated sounds, stories, routines, and actions.
Repetition helps language development and provides emotional comfort. We can replace numbers with alphabets A to F as a variation to this fun class activity using Six Bricks.
importance of rhythym and music for young children
Music and rhythm have been shown to activate the whole brain. More than 10 regions of brain are activated using music and rhythm.
Rhythm has the unique power for healing and neuroplasticity. It helps organize events into predictable and coherent patterns. It has deep effects on the brain including influencing perception and thinking. Studies have shown that learning and memory when linked to specific beats in a rhythm, stimulated increased learning ability.
In music, rhythm is the primary element that creates the perception of time. In speech, rhythm helps us select and extrapolate phonemes, syllables, words, and phrases from an ongoing speech stream. Having good rhythmic skills, therefore, appears to be essential not only for music or dance but also for language and communication skills.
Reference read – How Rhythmic Skills Relate and Develop in School-Age Children
WHO CREATED THIS AMAZING ACTIVITY?
Ms. Anahita Dhalla, founder at Flash-O-Mania has designed this fun activity using Six Bricks.
Flash-O-Mania (Where learning is fun) is a start up for Preschool educators and students to make teaching and learning more engaging in the classroom.
With a range of teaching aids customized for teachers, teacher training, consultation and the story club for children, it’s a place to come and learn together. Our team is a multi-stakeholder team to ensure we take up everyone’s perspective and suggestions.
More updates about Flash-O-Mania on their youtube channel.