Posted on: Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

Kids want to have fun. They love it when moms and dads join them in activities. Many families equate family fun with ball games, board games or watching TV. Family fun also includes music!

Music is a WONDERFUL activity for families. No, you don’t need to play an instrument or have vocal training to share music with your child. You do need a desire to interact with you child, to share with them, to experience, and to explore. You need to model enjoying the process.

In this series I will share four ways to do just that starting with …

Way 1 – Sing

Singing is free and is available to use in many situations. Learning to appropriately use your voice and to become of aware of the sounds we can create with our voice are important skills.

It’s okay if you can’t “sing your way out of a paper bag.” Perfection isn’t the goal. For those who are less comfortable singing, start by singing with the radio or recordings.

Songs are a great way to aid learning. Most of us learned our alphabet by singing the ABC’s. It is increasingly true for other subjects.

Singing encourages listening skills – singing the same or different notes; the quality of the sound being made; how high/low, loud/soft we are singing.

Songs can be a way to pass time when the power is out or when you are waiting in the car. Your voice is “packed and ready to go” .

Remember, the best part of family fun with music is giving the gift of time interacting and making great memories.

Be watching for future posts on Family Fun with Music. In the mean time, please share in the comments below your family’s favorite song to sing.

With a song in my heart - JoAnn

Author – JoAnn Jordan is a mom of a teen and a board certified music therapist who loves working with older adults & preschoolers- especially intergenerational groups. Favorite things for relaxing are home decorating, gardening & yoga. She blogs here