Today is the National Education Association’s (NEA) “Read Across America” day. They picked today, because tomorrow, March 2nd, would have been Dr. Seuss’s 81st birthday. I am a huge fan of Dr. Seuss, because not only are the books engaging and fun with incredible illustrations, but Dr. Seuss books are also some of the most rhythmical books around. With his rhyming comes natural beats, and as a musician, how could I not possibly love this?
The benefits of teaching beats and patterns to young children is incomparable. Plain and simply, children learn math by keeping beats, and in my music classes, I am constantly reading rhythmical stories and having the children tap out the beats on their laps as I read books. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) put out an excellent article about the beat/math tie last year called, “The Patterns of Music: Young Children Learning Mathematics Through Beat, Rhythm and Melody.” Click HERE to read the article, and next time you’re reading a rhythmical story to your child, please consider over-emphasizing the beat and having them keep it along with you.
I am celebrating “Read Across America” today by volunteering in my son’s Kindergarten classroom. All week long, the teacher has had parents come in and read their favorite books to the class. Ever since his 3-year-old class in his preschool, our favorite bedtime story has been “Knuffle Bunny, Too” by Mo Willems. It is not a book with rhythm, but it is one that is special to me and my son. So, I will share it to a room full of delightful children on Read Across America Day! How special is that?!!?
Finally, not only are Dr. Seuss’s books rhythmical in their nature, but there are also a bunch of excellent Dr. Seuss songs that are just awesome! In fact, there was an entire musical called “Seussville” based on his books, and the music from it is just great. My song of the day, however, has got to be the most classic of all of the Dr. Seuss songs. ”You’re a Mean One Mr Grinch” is a song that stuck through my childhood, and there is not a Christmas season that goes by without watching “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.” So, click HERE to go to Youtube to see a clip from the original movie and to enjoy this classic song.
In closing, I encourage you all to snuggle up closely with your children tonight and with a good book in hand. It is one of the most special ways to end the day with your child, and you’re giving them a gift that they will carry with them for years to come.
