Shakers, rākau sticks, and sweet waiata! In our Pītau nursery, music is more than fun—it’s how our youngest tamariki grow, connect, and discover their voices. Every beat brings learning to life and adds joy to each little moment. 🎶
At BestStart Kaikorai Valley Road, our infants and toddlers in the Pītau nursery enjoy participating in singing and dancing to waiata, free exploration of instruments, rhythm and beat exploration using rākau sticks, and listening to stories accompanied by songs.
Our kaiako understand the significance of integrating music into the learning environment due to the numerous developmental benefits it provides for babies and toddlers.
When kaiako provide tamariki with musical instruments to experiment with, they are creating opportunities that foster tamariki creative expression and developmental growth. As tamariki produce sounds by shaking, tapping, or plucking strings, they refine their fine motor skills and improve their coordination. Additionally, they develop their working theories on music and the methods required to produce their desired sounds.
Music and singing serve as effective methods for introducing new languages such as te reo Māori and assist in developing communication skills in young tamariki. Incorporating simple songs can enhance their vocabulary, improve their understanding of rhythm, and facilitate the acquisition of new words.
Integrating music into the educational setting supports the holistic development of tamariki by enhancing their cognitive, social, emotional, gross and fine motor, and language skills. Music positively impacts the wellbeing of tamariki by promoting a sense of joy and providing enjoyable experiences.