Songs are an important language development learning tool. One of my favorite speech and language therapy techniques is using singing to develop language. Using songs for preschoolers for language learning is fun and effective. Preschoolers can learn so much through songs. Why use songs in speech and language therapy?
- Many preschool songs have movement. This allows even students that are non-verbal to participate in the fun. One of my favorites is Wheels on the Bus. I had one little boy whose first participation in morning singing time was standing up for the line ” The people on the bus go up and down”. It is not only a great song for language development but for social interaction as the students imitate their peer’s movements. Songs are my go-to when I am looking for an effective way to develop language.
- Songs have simple sentence structures enabling students to increase their receptive and expressive language skills. In the song Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed the lyrics ( Five little monkeys jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head. Momma called the doctor and the doctor said ” No more monkeys jumping on the bed) allow the student to practice adjectives ( five, little ), tense ( present progressive-jumping, past tense-called, bumped) preposition (on).
- Preschool songs often have sound effects or repeating Consonant Vowel (CV) combinations that are great for those children just beginning to verbalize. Often the vowel sounds are prolonged creating even an easier sound combination for the students to learn. I am working for an 18 month-year-old and we are having so much fun singing the farm animal sounds in the song Old MacDonald. Using songs for language development becomes easier for families to carry over at home.
- Preschool songs have simple storylines. These are great for teaching story grammar and simple comprehension tasks. One way that I am now using them is in Boom Cards. The song will be sung or the poem read and then there will be some simple multiple-choice questions. This one is for “I’m Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee”
- Songs are great vehicles for vocabulary development. I often will use an interactive adapted song to teach and reinforce vocabulary. Do you want to try it out? Click the below picture to download this FREE interactive book to try it for yourself. The book is written in a rebus read and is part of a package of differentiated Hush Little Baby song bundle as I have students with different abilities and I like to have the same base material for all but differentiate to meet their needs. TRY THIS FREE SAMPLE CLICK THE BELOW PICTURE!
Songs are an important language learning tool. They are can have movement, simple sentences structures, repeating consonant-vowel sounds, simple storylines and are a fun way to teach vocabulary.
Related blogs:
- HOW TO USE A FAVORITE CHILD’S SONG IN SPEECH THERAPY
- USING A SONG CHOICE BOARD
- GIVING CHOICES ASSIST IN GAINING COOPERATION
Related products:
- Circle Time Song Bundle File Folder Interactive
- Preschool-Kindergarten song choice board 160 songs
- Wheels on the Bus: Interactive Adapted Song Card: Choice
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