photo credit: Tony Crescibene

While traveling the highway with the kids in route to (or from) a much needed vacation, you may hear, “How much longer before we get there? I’m bored! What can we do?”

Well Mom and Dad, how about using music to create a better atmosphere. Gari Stein wrote an article, “The Benefits of Using Music with Young Children,” which she suggests that music and movement can:

• Nourish the brain while affecting all areas of development
• Strengthen listening, motor skills, language, problem solving and literacy
• Help develop critical listening skills
• Create space for emotional well-being
• Provide opportunities to practice social skills
• Instill acts of kindness and cooperation
• Calm and focus the mind
• Encourage interaction in non-threatening ways

So as you travel along, whether taking a vacation or just running those daily errands, put Gari Stein’s theory into use by bringing a variety of  interactive songs to teach and entertain.  You can go to www.songsforteaching.com and download songs to suit your family’s needs.

There are songs to help with:

• Mathematics
• Science Songs
• Early Childhood Songs
• Special Education Songs
• Languages:  English, French, German, Latin, Spanish and Chinese
• Life Skills Songs

You can also bring along the book and CD “That’s Bingzy! Busy Building Self-Esteem“.  Kids will enjoy learning the rhymes and singing the positive, uplifting songs while traveling from one place to another. This is also a great time for parents to discuss and interact with their kids, in an effort to build- up their child’s self-esteem.

Here’s to happy travels!

The Bing Note Team