Bean Bags and Music with Mar
Guest post by Maryann Harman of Music with Mar
Bean bags are one of the many things in early childhood that are thought of as ‘toys’ and yet they are so much more than that.
It’s almost as if ‘toy’ is a bad word, like there is no time for toys in early childhood. We must get ready for school! Toys are the tools of childhood. It is with toys that many skills are developed because it is through play we learn how to navigate the world. Bean bags are fun toys.
Let’s break down the things that are learned when playing with bean bags.
Playing with Bean Bags and Learning
The first aspect is tactile. Children are feeling them. Squishing them. Poking them. This helps to develop the FINE MOTOR SKILLS of the fingers. When they push down on the beans in the middlle and they move, that’s SCIENCE! They are learning displacement. When they toss a bean bag up in the air and it comes down, that’s gravity. None of these concepts need to be named. They can just happen while children’s brains get wired for understanding the concept when the time comes.
There are many songs using bean bags. I, myself, have composed a few. The combination of music with the bean bag activities intensifies the learning experience. Music helps the children utilize the bean bags in a constructive way while making it easier to understand. Because of music, they will retain what they’ve learned a bit longer as well.
The song “I’ve Got a Bean Bag” encourages children to try different motor skills. It’s simple and children can be successful.
I’ve got a bean bag. Yes. I’ve got a bean bag
I throw it up. And, catch it when it comes down
I’ve got a bean bag. Yes. I’ve got a bean bag
I throw it to my friend and catch it when she throws it back
I’ve got a bean bag. Yes. I’ve got a bean bag
Put it on my foot and kick it up. Catch it when it comes down
I’ve got a bean bag. Yes. I’ve got a bean bag
I throw it up and catch it when it comes down.
Music with Mar shares how you can incorporate learning with bean bags. Click To Tweet
Balance and Coordination with Bean Bags
Another fun thing to do with bean bags is walk and balance with one on your head or shoulder. This is important for VESTIBULAR strengthening. By taking the bean bag and placing it on different parts of the body, children are learning body parts – LANGUAGE
When using bean bags with children, I encourage them to ‘try what I’m doing’ and ‘show me what you’re doing’. This allows for you to show them ideas and acknowledges they, too, can think of things to do. CREATIVE THINKING as well as CONFIDENCE. I also ask them to share with a friend and trade bean bags. SOCIAL INTERACTION.
I am teaming up with Bear Paw Creek and we are doing a giveaway for a set of bean bags and my cd, “Froggy Fitness”.
If you haven’t used bean bags in a while, it is time to revisit them. If you are using bean bags, YEAH! Get out those bean bags and have fun. Bear Paw Creek sells 4″ square and textured bean bags – check them out!
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