Syllables and Songs
Prep: None | Activity Time: 3–5 Minutes
Beginning in infancy, children begin to notice the different sounds of speech. This is one reason babies enjoy songs, rhymes and chants. Songs are a perfect way to introduce even the youngest babies to syllables, because in music, each syllable gets one note (beat). Having an awareness that words can be broken into smaller parts is a critical pre-reading skill — and this can be introduced almost effortlessly, just by singing to your infant.
- Children's music
Choose a children's song with a slow tempo (Example: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star).
As you hold your baby, gently pat his back for every beat in the song as you sing the words aloud:
"Twin ... kle, twin ... kle lit ... tle star" (seven pats on the back)
Continue patting his back as you sing the remainder of the song.
As an alternative to patting his back, you might gently bounce your baby, rock him back and forth or even just lightly tap his tummy for each beat in the song.