Did you know that active music-making is more effective in boosting the immune system than over the counter vitamins? Take a look at these top 5 reasons drums should be a part of your accessible classroom materials each and every day.
1. Active drumming has been credited with improving immune function and mood.
2. The average human has little or no Alpha brain wave function, while Alpha waves are responsible for memory retention, higher-level learning, creativity, and more. Research proves that active drumming increases the Alpha brain waves by 50% in just 30 minutes!
3. Active drumming for just 30 minutes can burn up to 1,000 calories! (Bring on Rest Time!)
4. Regular drumming supports stress reduction in both children and adults of all ages. Do the math: Less Stress + More Movement = Fewer outbursts, reduced yelling, increased focus and most importantly fun! Remember, a stressed brain cannot learn.
5. More than 700 neural connections form in the early years of life, so imagine if even half of those involved music benefits 1-4 could be lifelong.
Keep an eye out for more information about using drums in the classroom as well as other helpful tips at our Wayne RESA GSRP Facebook Page. Each and every Tuesday, you’ll find a #teachertipTuesday post to inspire and excite educators and families alike. In an upcoming blog, we’ll share a small group time activity where children can explore and make drums out of recycled materials.
Guest Author: Carissa Orr, Wayne RESA Early Childhood Consultant
Author: Wayne RESA - GSRP
Great Start Readiness Program is a Michigan state-funded preschool program for four-year-old children with factors which may place them at risk of educational failure. The program is administered by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Great Start. Funding is allocated to Wayne RESA to administer the program locally. These blogs were developed and funded under a grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Education. Research on preschool programs and specific research on GSRP indicates that children provided with a high-quality preschool experience show significant positive developmental differences when compared to children from the same backgrounds who did not attend a high-quality preschool program.
Great Start Readiness Program is a Michigan state-funded preschool program for four-year-old children with factors which may place them at risk of educational failure. The program is administered by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Great Start. Funding is allocated to Wayne RESA to administer the program locally.
These blogs were developed and funded under a grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Education.
Research on preschool programs and specific research on GSRP indicates that children provided with a high-quality preschool experience show significant positive developmental differences when compared to children from the same backgrounds who did not attend a high-quality preschool program.
Photographer:
Early Childhood Professional, “Music with Ms. Carissa,” Mama, and now blogger thanks to MDM! Carissa works as an Early Childhood Consultant for Michigan’s state-funded Preschool Program, the Great Start Readiness Program. In her spare time, she entertains children and families with live music as part of her Music with Ms. Carissa. Most importantly, she is “Jack’s Mom” and loves adventuring with her young toddler all around Metro Detroit!
