Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Cognitive Development (CD)

Subdomain: Creative Expression

Goal: Children demonstrate self-expression and creativity in a variety of forms and contexts, including play, visual arts, music, drama, and dance.

Skill Progression: Music/dance

Age: 36-42 Months

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Play familiar music and then provide instruments without the background music.

Allow the child to perform with the music or have all parties dance and sing together. The adult can then give the child an instrument and say, “Now you make up some music for me (or us) to dance to.”

The child will cheerfully dance and sing, most often preferring to do this with others.

Not all families have musical instruments, but drums can be made of anything and clapping out rhythms works as well. Encourage parents to keep time with feet, hands, and musical instruments. This helps children not only with rhythm, but also with reading, because children need to break words into rhythmic syllables.