About Making Rainbows
Making Rainbows was developed by Bernadette James in 2015. She has years of experience teaching in Early Childhood, Primary and Special School settings. Over her teaching career, she’s recognised the benefits of using music as a learning tool and is passionate about delivering a stimulating, multi-sensory program for children from birth to 5 years. Studies have shown that exposure to music from a very young age increases abilities in many other areas including math and language. The relationship between music and brain development is very strong.
Parents participate with their children in the program, singing and playing instruments and other fun props. It’s a lovely way to bond with your child and excite their natural love of music in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Bernadette chooses the props and resources carefully to ensure that every part of the lesson is purposeful and beneficial to each child, whether it be for fine motor development (finger rhymes, instrument play), gross motor development (balancing on balls, hula hoops) or school readiness behaviours (sharing, taking turns, greeting/farewell songs). She loves to introduce children to new experiences and well as consolidating old skills, to build confidence.
The latest research from the University of Queensland shows “that children who experience early shared music activities in the home during infancy and early childhood score better than their peers in vocabulary, numeracy, attentional and emotional regulation and pro-social skills.” (Professor Barrett)
The benefits of using music and movement to facilitate early learning are endless!
- increased confidence
- language skills
- social and emotional skills
- fine and gross motor skills
- mathematical and pre-literacy skills
- understanding of basic musical concepts
- spacial awareness
- dynamic balance
- improved muscle tone
- ability to follow instructions
- school readiness behaviours
