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Library toddlers are movers and shakers
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Lorenzo Delos Reyes, of Austintown, got into the rhythm of the songs using his rhythm sticks during the Canfield Public Library’s Rhythm and Motion for 2’s and 3’s Dec. 21.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Toddlers attending the Canfield Public Library’s holiday-themed Rhythm and Motion for 2’s and 3’s had a great time moving to the music and using musical instruments.
By ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield library hosted a special holiday-themed Rhythm and Motion for 2’s and 3’s Dec. 21. The Rhythm and Motion event is a once a month deviation from the regularly scheduled story time and involves music, instruments and movement.
“This time provides the children with a multitude of benefits. The various activities we offer gives them the opportunity to learn about rhythm, learn how to follow directions and it gives them a chance to sharpen their listening skills because they move from one activity to another. It is very educational overall,” said Jan Scott-Luoma, children’s librarian and originator of the program.
Jane Adams, Canfield Library children’s librarian, hung up large song sheets for the parents to help the children follow along, and started the program with the children singing and clapping to “Can You Say Merry Christmas” to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”
To the delight of the children, Adams then passed out wrist bells and they all sang “Christmas Bells” to the tune of “O Christmas Tree,” with, of course, lots of bell ringing.
With the bells still ringing, Adams played “I Want a Hippo for Christmas” with the children following along in the book she held for them to see.
The children and parents then sang “Old St. Nick Had a Tree” to the tune of “Old McDonald Had a Farm” and “Ten Bells” to the song “Ten Little Indians.”
To start the movement portion of the program, the children got up and stomped and clapped their hands to “Ring, Ring, Ring the Bells” to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”
“The program also gives the children a chance to move around the room and expend some of their energy,” said Scott-Luoma.
Adams then gave the children rhythm sticks and the children tapped them together to the beat of “Up on the Housetop” and continued to use them and their wrist bells to sing “Hear His Bells” to the song “Are You Sleeping?”
“The children can work on their hand-eye coordination while using the musical instruments and it also gives them a sense of pride when they use the instruments,” said Jan Scott-Luoma.
To end the program, Adams placed a small Christmas tree in the middle of the room and the children marched, skipped and hopped around the tree to the tune of “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.”
The Rhythm and Motion for 2’s and 3’s is held at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of every month at the Canfield library.