Chippewa River District Library gets children dancing for education

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The sounds of lions, elephants and snakes rang out Friday morning from the Veterans Memorial Library, 301 S. University Ave.

About 20 children imitated some of their favorite animals during a Chippewa River District Library Music and Movement class, one installment of the CRDL’s 2011 summer reading program.

The Music and Movement program encompasses a variety of classes designed to help reading proficiency for children of all ages. Its classes target children up to five years old and are aimed to enhance the brain development of participants through song and dance.

Class instructor and Mount Pleasant resident Judy Czarnecki has helped parents educate their children through the classes for four years. Czarnecki believes teaching through song and dance allows children to develop problem solving techniques, strengthen memory and improve academic performance.

“Obviously, the main part of it is we want the kids to have fun,” Czarnecki said. “If they have their early literacy skills developed before kindergarten, the child will have a much easier time with reading.”

The class encourages children to actively follow along to different songs, most with simple, nursery rhyme-like melodies,  with egg shakers, rhythm sticks and other hands-on items to help keep their interest high.

“Listening to songs at that age helps with phonological awareness, and the dances are important too,” Czarnecki said. “When the children cross their hands over the mid-line of their bodies, it’s helping the two halves of the brain build synapses.”

Mount Pleasant resident Ted Clayton and his four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Frances Jernigan-Clayton, participated at the event.

“It certainly helps her to see reading and song in a fun environment,” Clayton said. “It’s also good for social development and for her to see what the rules are about behaving in a room full of other people.”

Rob Wang, CRDL Marketing and Communications Manager, said he believes the event can be beneficial for children and parents alike.

“The class covers lessons to parents to help reinforce the children’s skills at home,” Wang said. “Hopefully by the time the children reach kindergarten, they’ll have all the skills set in place to continue to develop in school.”