Fiddle-Dee-Dee Lesson 4

Lesson Focus: Fast and Slow
Tempo (or speed) is central to music. The 1 1/2 to 3-year old child is learning to control and coordinate his body's movements and is naturally interested in the concepts of fast and slow and getting faster and getting slower. Mastering these concepts is fun and satisfying for the child.

FOL: Conversation Skills
(Vocal Play: Tick Tock)

The echoing in this vocal play begins as imitation but can develop through improvisation on the part of the teacher or the children. The exchange, whether imitative or improvised, allows children to experience the give and take of conversation. This is vital to the development of conversation skills, which is an important element of social development.

FOL: Praise the Accomplishment

In acknowledging a child’s choice to participate it is important to praise the accomplishment rather than to make a global comment such as “Good girl!” or “Good boy!” When the latter type of praise is used frequently, there is the danger that the child might interpret the absence of such praise to mean, “I’m a bad boy,” or “I’m not good enough.” Examples of appropriate praise include the following:

• “Great job. You played the drum!”
• “You’re good at that.”
• “You did it!”

– Dr. Becky Bailey, Ten Principles of Positive Discipline audio cassette, Loving Guidance, 1993