Month 45

A neurological scan of children who are singing nursery rhymes and doing counting games would show sections of their brains literally glowing with activity

Singing, moving and playing to music during your child’s early years will give your child a head start. During these formative years when the brain is highly active, music is a powerful “superfood” that will stimulate your child’s growth and development.

Music is the only proven activity that affects whole brain and body development.

“Superfood” facts about Music
• Music reinforces learning because the brain is processing information simultaneously from multiple senses (sound, sight, touch and emotion)
• When we hear music, our brain releases a chemical that gives pleasure
• Musical training improves your ear for language—even learning a second language
• Studies show that musical activities encourage people to cooperate rather than compete
• Music reaches the deepest emotional parts of the brain
• Music is a powerful force for driving movement—rhythm organizes physical movement
• Making music is a whole-body experience
• When children study music, it impacts their proficiency in language, reading, and math

How I think @ 45 months

Your child is now easily using 4 – 5 word sentences and using words to relate observations, ideas and relationships. His vocabulary is expanding to 900 words by age 4 and he is holding conversations using many correct grammatical structures (plurals, possession, pronouns, prepositions and adjectives). He has also started using “when” and “how” in questions, as well as “so” and “because”. He is able to describe things more accurately and can tell you what certain objects are used for. He is also able to answer simple problem solving questions.

Motor Development: Gross Motor Skills
• I can run around obstacles
• I can walk on a line
• I can balance on one foot for five to ten seconds
• I can hop on one foot
• I am able to push, pull and steer wheeled toys

Motor Development: Fine Motor Skills
• I can manipulate clay material (I can roll clay into balls, snakes, cookies)
• I can hold a pencil with appropriate grasp

Language and Thinking Development
• I can make 4 – 5 word sentences
• I frequently ask, “why” and “what”

Social and Emotional Development
• I am becoming more independent.
• I can play alone for about 20 minutes
• I still need lots of attention, hugging and comfort

Activities