We encounter rhythm on a daily, almost momentary basis. Rhythm is all around us – think of the rhythmic timing of the seasons, the tides of the ocean and the multi-layered biological rhythms of our brains and bodies, controlling everything from our heart rates to our sleeping patterns.
When these rhythms work in harmony, everything functions with order and purpose, but as soon as these rhythms become out of sync, we have disorder.
Chronobiologists (biologists studying bodily, or circadian, rhythms) believe that rhythm is such an important part of life that a lack of it can cause illness. In early childhood development, we often find that children who struggle with the basics of academics, and even sports, struggle to keep a beat that has been set for them to follow.
When I think of keeping a rhythm, I immediately think of sequencing. The definition of rhythm is ‘a pattern of events in time’. Rhythmic patterns follow specific sequences. Sequencing is the ability to do things in a specific and correct order or pattern within a certain time frame. Being able to follow a set rhythm within a structured time, plays a big role in developing academic sequencing skills. Maths, language, and communication are especially dependent on children’s ability to sequence. They must be able to structure information in a correct order for it to make sense and very often they have a limited amount of time to do so.
Keeping a structured rhythm also connects with the vestibular system in our ears, and in turn, the vestibular system links with our body’s ability to move in a grounded and planned manner. Every time we rhythmically clap, or walk, or play a rhythmical instrument such as a drum or marimba, we are teaching our bodies how to coordinate on a deeper level, translating into the way we move and sustain bodily awareness on a daily basis.
There are some simple exercises that you can do with your child to start laying the foundations for rhythmic structure in the body.
For small children (babies and toddlers):
- Put your child on your hip and dance along to a song with a strong, stable rhythm. Your child’s body will pick up on your body rhythm.
For children aged 6 and up (and yes, adults too):
- Download any metronome application (I use Soundbrenner, which you can download for free).
- Set the metronome to 54 bpm (beats per minute) in a 4/4 time.
- Let your child clap along with the metronome’s beat. The aim is to clap exactly in time to the beep of the metronome. If they struggle at first, take their hands in yours and clap together. Soon they will be able to keep the beat on their own.
- The second exercise you can do is to rhythmically walk in one place to the metronome’s beat. (Note: don’t combine the two exercises.)
- You can aim to let them clap and walk in one spot for 2 minutes each (per exercise) per day until they don’t become tired anymore. From then on you can turn it into a fun, challenging game to see whether they can clap or walk in one spot for 30 seconds longer every day, adding on time until they can manage 5 minutes per day for each activity.
- Try and do 5 days on and 2 days off. Resting in between is a good thing for the body to integrate what you have learned.
It will be tiresome for them at first because it takes a lot of energy and focus for the brain and body to become rhythmically in tune, but after a week or two they will be able to keep the beat for longer every time as their bodies become rhythmically fit and in sync.
At The Waldorf School we are starting to implement rhythmic work within the music lessons on a regular basis because of its benefits. Teaching our children how to keep a stable rhythm goes a long way to aiding their development in the long run.
Happy clapping!
– by Juanita Bredenhann – Music Teacher