Zumbini® Is Session-Based, This Is Why It Matters
One of the questions asked most frequently about Zumbini® is why we don’t offer drop-in classes. Why is Zumbini® only offered as a session-based class? One of the most important reasons Zumbini® is only offered in a session-based format is because young children learn best from consistent repetition. Children do love one-off experiences, don’t get me wrong, but if we are looking for a way to help children develop their skills, they will need consistent exposure and repetition to whatever they are learning. Let’s put this into swimming terms- if you only take your little one to a pool once a year, more than likely they will not be a…
Learning In My Own Way- How Little Ones Learn During Circle Time
Ever notice that when the adults sit in a circle for an activity that’s the time the toddlers start running? It doesn’t matter if we’re reading a favorite book or singing the best song in the world, as a little person, this seems to be the best time to get up and run. But does that mean they aren’t learning? Of course not! Young children are always learning, it just may not look like what we (the adults) expect learning to look like. For instance, while we sit in a circle in Zumbini to sing a song together, all of the adults sit side by side watching the instructor to…
How Repetition In Zumbini Effects Young Children’s Development
Have you ever noticed how your little one loves doing something over and over again? Even if drives you crazy, they will ask to read the same book, to hear the same song, or to play the same game again and again! When young children use repetition, they are learning and refining new skills their growing brains need every day. Think back to something you were learning how to do. Maybe it was riding a bike, learning to code, or following some better eating habits. None of these things are achieved on the first try (typically). It takes a lot of repetition until they are mastered. While we may consciously plan…
Music Is A Language For Everyone In Zumbini
I am reminded how true this statement is every week in Zumbini. It doesn’t matter what language someone speaks to communicate, everyone can “speak” music. From the tiny babies with little verbal language to a fluent adult, everyone can communicate with music. When a dancing song comes on, you can see everyone start to “speak” with tapping their toes, bouncing up and down, clapping, or swaying their body. When we sit to sing, everyone can feel the rhythm from patting our legs, repeat basic words in the song, or copy the gestures we use along with the words. Music works through everyone. In any given week, I have families in…
