Which class is best for my child?
One of the most important strengths of the Kindermusik philosophy is its focus on the different developmental needs of each stage of childhood. Each level is designed to give your child the most appropriate, most stimulating environment to nurture their developmental needs. We celebrate and explore each age rather than rush forward, coaxing forth the joy and creativity in each individual child and respecting their unique pattern and pace in growing up. Our Kindermusik program is process-oriented, not performance-based.
Since Kindermusik addresses the development of the whole child, there are certain ages at which you may wonder which of the Kindermusik curricula best suits your child’s age and stage. This is especially important when your child may have been premature with an older chronological age and possible developmental aspects that need to be considered. We have age levels to give you some guidance, but there is also flexibility in certain age spans that overlap our curricula.
While a child should be at least the minimum age to enroll in any given class, there are three critical "transitional stages" when parents have an important choice to make about which class is most appropriate and beneficial for their child: at age 1˝, when broaching age 3˝ and at age 4˝. Our “transitional stages”, 18-20 months, 3 to 3 ˝, and 4 1/2 to 5, are points at which you and your Kindermusik educator can help your child by deciding which level would be most beneficial and appropriate. Ask yourself some important questions.
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Which of these levels will my child thrive in, rather than just being able to get along in?
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Am I considering my child’s pleasure and emotional development as much as their cognitive development?
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Is my child eager for added independence and challenges, or are they most delighted by sharing special time with me to help guide and support them?
There are also certain guideposts to look for in your child's development which will help direct your choices. Listed below are some characteristics which indicate that your child will obtain the maximum developmental benefits and pleasure from a particular curricula. Let these help you in making this important decision. While no two children develop in the exact same way, a child who is ready for a certain curricula will display many of the characteristics of that level. Of course, I am always available to discuss individual questions and concerns- please do not hesitate to contact me - sharing in your child’s developmental journey is both my profession and my joy.
Moving from Village to Our Time:
Children ready for this next level show many of the following characteristics:
Physical
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Improved walking skills, feet are together, knees flexible (vs. the "just walker" who has a wide-based, legs-apart gait with locked knees)
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Beginning to imitate/explore a variety of traveling movements - run, jump, leap
Cognitive
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Reliably point to correctly identified body part
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Can follow two-step directions
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Understands what "one" means (vs. a handful)
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Learning to use toys and objects in symbolic ways (moving beyond just enjoyment of sensory properties)
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Can interact in a directed activity
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Able to shift attention with transitions
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Connects to an activity; initiates a play sequence
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Reliably responds to own name (refers to self by name in secure environments)
Emotional
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Uses gestures and language to deal with frustration (as opposed to just crying or whining)
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Sustains interest and attention in activity for several minutes (Note: not wanting to give something up, such as bells or sticks, can be a sign of maturation)
Language
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Can express wants and needs symbolically (gestures, words)
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Has vocabulary of 20 words; receptive language is still stronger than expressive
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Reading with caregiver becomes cooperative. Child will select book, sit, relate to the story and interact
Social
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Interested in what other children are doing
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Capable of distal communication (i.e. following verbal instructions from farther away)
Musical
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Moves to music, perhaps to steady beat
Moving from Our Time to Imagine That!:
Children ready for this next level show many of the following characteristics:
Physical
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Has a taller, thinner, adult-like appearance
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Balances on one foot; jumps in place without falling
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Holding crayons in pincher grasp rather than fist
Cognitive
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Knows if they are a boy or a girl
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Can do matching games
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Knows some basic shapes and colors
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Developing divergent thinking skills ("What animals do you like?")
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Beginning transition from concrete to abstract thinking (humor aids this process)
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Sits and listens to stories for up to 10 minutes
Emotional
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Recognizes needs of another person; can be empathetic
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Separates from parent without crying
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Development of humor
Language
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Beginning to master rules of language; speaks in full sentences (4-5 words); asks questions
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Vocabulary growing from 300 - 1,000 words
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Can relate a series of activities; tells stories ("We went to the grocery store, then to grandma's and I played with the kittens.")
Social
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Recognizes the needs of others
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Turn taking becomes harder than earlier, but beginning to understand reasons
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Learning about patience
Musical
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Recites rhymes
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Sings simple, whole songs
Moving from Imagine That! to Young Child:
Please note: the 2-year Young Child program was intended in design for kindergartners and first graders. Individual exceptions might be made for a child participating in a pre-K program who will turn 5 years old soon after school starts. A 4 year old preschooler would best be served, in most instances, by participating in Imagine That!
Children ready for this next level show
many of the following characteristics:
Physical
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Can jump forward many times in a row, hops, gallops, is learning to skip
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Demonstrates control of pencil or marker
Cognitive
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Eager to learn
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Has developed classification skills (i.e., can sort things that have a single common feature) and can sort by size, color, and form
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Counts to 20; recognizes numerals 1-10
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Engages in dramatic play that is close to reality
Emotional
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Impulse control is emerging and developing
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Exhibits self-confidence and reliabilityi
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Sense of right and wrong is growing
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Beginning to see things from another's perspective
Language
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Speech is nearly 100% intelligible (exceptions may include children with hearing and language delays)
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Uses grammar correctly (i.e., past and future tense)
Social
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Enjoys friendships and group activities
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Shares, takes turns, plays cooperatively
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Is affectionate and caring
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Follows directions
Musical
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Sings a whole song
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Beginning to match pitches consistently
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Developing ability to match to group steady beat