For 30 years early childhood educator Ron Gustafson has been engaging children in music, both in the classroom and from a stage as part of the popular Teddy Bear Band. Today he brings his knowledge and experience to Mom Enough in a unique discussion and demonstration of fun, simple ways you can use music to build your child’s language skills and emerging literacy. Guitar in hand, Ron plays snippets of familiar songs, then wraps up the show with a Teddy Bear Band recording of one of his original songs. Turn up the volume and invite your child to “Jump Around!” (By the way, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton proclaimed June 28, 2015 Teddy Bear Band Day!)

 

What are some of the ways participating in music influences language, memory and literacy? How was music part of your childhood and how do you use music with your children? Do you remember the Teddy Bear Band from when you were a child? (A question for our younger parent listeners!) Leave a comment below!

 

For Teddy Bear Band concert information, click here.

For the Sing, Play and Move CD, click here.

For the article on purposeful play, click here.