The Fort Worth Public Library system is utilizing music and movement as educational tools for children up to age five. The program, known as Music and Movement, is held at various branches across the city and aims to support early literacy and cognitive development through interactive activities.
A recent session at the Southwest Regional Library featured toddlers and preschoolers engaging in songs such as "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider." Participants used colorful salt shakers to dance while identifying body parts like elbows and noses. The class also included a storytime segment where attendees listened to "Parker's Place," a book featuring a character named Parker the T. Rex.
The program is typically scheduled from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. on Thursdays and is designed for children between the ages of three and five. Youth Library Assistant Julia Ornelas Glowacz leads the sessions, which incorporate early literacy concepts alongside musical engagement.
Research cited in connection with the program indicates that music can enhance vocabulary and phonological awareness, which helps children recognize spoken parts of words. The National Association for the Education of Young Children suggests that parents can use music to help children develop skills in math, reading, and social studies through repeating patterns and rhymes.
Parents attending the classes have noted the benefits of integrating music into daily routines. Natalie Redmon, who attends with her children Noah, Graham, and Letty, incorporates singing and reading into her family's morning and bedtime habits. She believes that parental interest in reading encourages children to seek out books and library cards independently.
Lindsay Boaz, whose daughter Lyla attended the class, reported that listening to classical music helps her child focus on tasks like playing with blocks for longer periods. Boaz emphasized the importance of reading for language development and expressed gratitude for the library's programming.
