Valentine…
We’ve been using the song "Valentine" with our kiddos for years. We now have a version in Spanish as well. This song is a wonderful example of how music therapy can combine learning objectives with movement goals in a playful, engaging, and multisensory way. Let's break down how this song can help children with spelling and movement:
1. Helps Kids Learn to Spell "Valentine"
Repetition:
The primary way the song helps children learn to spell "Valentine" is through repetition. The phrase "VALENTINE spells Valentine" is repeated several times throughout the song. Repetition is a powerful tool in learning, especially for young children. Hearing and singing the letters repeatedly allows the children to internalize the spelling through auditory and motor memory.
Song Structure:
The structure of the song keeps the word "Valentine" central and reinforces the spelling in a catchy and memorable way. The regularity of the tune, along with the repeated spelling, creates a pattern that children can anticipate and remember.
Engagement:
When the children sing along and emphasize the word "Valentine" each time it’s mentioned, they are actively participating in spelling the word in a fun and interactive manner. This makes learning feel more like play and less like a formal lesson.
2. Helps with Movement Goals
Movement Integration:
Music therapy often uses physical movement to help children develop motor skills, and this song could be used in several ways to engage children in movement:
Clapping or Tapping: Children could clap or tap their hands to the rhythm of the song as they sing. This helps develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Swaying or Dancing: The repetitive and rhythmic nature of the song makes it perfect for children to sway or move in time with the beat, helping them develop gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. You can encourage different kinds of movement, such as stretching, turning, or even simple gestures that represent the spelling of "Valentine" (like forming the letter "V" with their arms).
Action for Engagement:
The lyrics themselves can inspire additional movement. For example, children could make heart shapes with their hands during "Won't you be mine?" to encourage expressive movement and association with the theme of love. Or, as the song talks about Valentine and the almond tree, children could pretend to "plant" something in the air with hand gestures or body movements.
Vocal Movement and Breath Control:
Singing itself helps with breath control and vocal movement, which is a key part of both language development and physical health. The melody and phrasing can encourage the child to control their breathing and projection, which strengthens their voice while involving full-body movement (such as standing up or moving around while singing).
3. Building Conceptual Connections
Linking Words and Ideas:
The song also introduces children to historical and cultural concepts, like the story of Valentine, the history of Valentine’s Day, and the idea of "gifting" (flowers, chocolate, almonds). This broadens their learning experience beyond just spelling, connecting the word "Valentine" to actions, ideas, and emotions (like love, friendship, and sharing), which can lead to discussions or even role-play activities.
Movement in Context:
The song's use of narrative (the story of Valentine and Julia, the almond tree, and modern traditions) also provides context for movement activities. For example, after singing about the almond tree, children could simulate the planting of a tree or reaching for almonds in the air, which ties the physical activity to the song's storytelling and reinforces the theme.
4. Encouraging Emotional and Social Development
Social Interaction:
The line "Won’t you be mine?" invites social interaction, especially if the children sing it together in a group. This can encourage cooperative behavior, sharing, and feelings of connection with others.
Positive Associations:
The song’s gentle tone and theme of kindness and love also help children build positive associations with the spelling of "Valentine" and its broader cultural meaning. This can foster a sense of emotional connection to the task, making it more likely they will want to remember and use the word "Valentine."
The "Valentine" song offers a dynamic way to support children in learning to spell while simultaneously working on movement goals. Through repetition, engagement with the rhythm, and interactive movement, children not only learn the letters of "Valentine" but also build motor skills, emotional connections, and an understanding of cultural traditions, all in an enjoyable and memorable way. Music therapy can seamlessly combine academic goals with developmental movement, making the learning process fun and meaningful.