Every 2nd Saturday of each month kids ages 3 & up and their parents gather to clap, tap, step, sing and drum . . . not only for fun, but also for good health. During that hour of EXPLORE! Rhythm, we all:
Keep steady beat
Learn rhythms using word phrases (mnemonics)
Play rhythm games
Create rhythms with stories
On some Saturdays, even puppets lead the fun!

Of course it's FUN! Kids have fun, parents have fun, and everybody has fun - all that fun with body and hand percussion and drumming.

Note: For each of the last two months we've had about 25 kids, parents and grandparents join together for these Saturday Rhythm Jams. We have a rhythm blast. Come and join us!

But, there's more . . . Drumming . . . It's not just for fun anymore! EXPLORE! Rhythm develops good BEAT COMPETENCY.

Developing good BEAT COMPETENCY promotes healthy mental, physical and social development in children - and adults. Drumming is . . .

• Good for your body - It really gets the blood flowing!
• Good for your brain It assisting left/right brain integration and focus!
• Good for your self-esteem - You get to lead the group!
• Good for your family bonding - It's a fun activity you do together!
• Hands-on FUN! - No sit and watch like TV!

Rhythm-based activities are fun, and they help learning because they require use of both sides of the brain, and recent research indicates that activating the whole brain improves children's ability to learn. These rhythm activities help develop BEAT COMPETENCY in us humans (adults, too), and that helps us integrate both sides of our brain for a more efficient and effective experience of our lives life. Developing good BEAT COMPETENCY will not only helps develop your child's gross motor skills and ability to focus, but will enhance academic skills of reading, science, and math. Good BEAT COMPETENCY also helps develop a positive self-esteem and individual creativity for better social skills. You can get great ideas for rhythm games with your family and friends from Music Explorium's Rhythm Jam with Family & Friends.

Latin Percussion (LP) offers a great support for suggestions on supporting your child developing a good rhythm competency. Check out LP's Steps 'n Stages approach to early childhood music education. We really like the Percussion Activities for Preschoolers.

You can find out more about BEAT COMPETENCY research by visiting the High Scope Educational Research Foundation.

In 'Foundations of Literacy', Sue Palmer and Ros Bayley list development of rhythm and beginning with the ability to hold a steady beat as a ingredient in the foundation for literacy which depends on language and listening skills.