Listen & Move is a tried and true musical activity to include in your auditory verbal therapy in face to face sessions, in telepractice or for families at home. It’s a no-prep, effective listening and language learning activity so give and try!
I’ve been a long time fan of incorporating Greg & Steve's music in auditory verbal sessions. The songs are language rich, educational and motivating. The Listen & Move song from theWe All Live Together, Vol-2 album is exceptional for babies to listen and move to along with their parents or caregivers. Preschoolers and early elementary aged children can build skills in
listening and attention
following directions
auditory memory and recall
musical appreciation.
In the linked YouTube video, there are no images, so Listen and Move! is played through hearing alone. Kids listen to the words and the tempo that match actions to follow along. Allowing children to hear the music without pictures or using props provides ear contact before eye contact which is critical to growing a child’s brain for auditory skills.
How to Play:
Play the video, listen to the music and follow the directions to WALK, GALLOP, TIPTOE, RUN, SKATE and HOP.
The second verse is the same music but without the words or directions.
This time the kids listen to the musical elements of pitch, rhythm, phrase, cadence and use their auditory memory and recall to dance and move to the sounds they hear and identify. Each action’s musical sounds are distinctive such as tiptoeing versus skating.
Expand this activity by targeting vocabulary and talking together about topics like, Who gallops? Why would someone tip-toe? Types of skates and so on.
Follow up with a story. Check out a list of the best kids books about movement and motion by Bookroo: The Children's Book Experts.
Gallop! A Scanimation Picture Book by Seder, R. B. (2007) is wonderful for babies and toddlers and encourages listeners to gallop, swing, run, and jump like a variety of different animals.
Have fun!