It's been a little while since my last post. Adjusting to my new normal as a college freshman has been pretty time-consuming, but that subject is for another post. Today as I was starting my day at school walking to my morning dance class I had a moment to reflect on the role of music and movement in my life.

Bridging the gap between expressive and receptive language will always be a struggle for children with hearing loss acquiring spoken language, and I was no exception. We don't often associate music with language acquisition. However,, it was an integral tool during my experience growing up. Some of my earliest memories are tied to music and the playful songs that helped me expand my vocabulary and communication skills.  Events or activities of daily living were made effortless and fun through the power of music. Silly original compositions about anything and everything, brushing your teeth, getting dressed, doing your homework, or cleaning up toys. We can learn so many lessons and enrich language through a simple rhythm. 

The Underwear Song

One of my first memories is what I call "the underwear song," a spoken language tool my mother used to help me learn new words. At a young age, my mother noticed I enjoyed rhythm so she had an endless list of original compositions narrating all my activities of daily living. Catering to my strengths and what my parents believed at the time would tie happiness and joy to mundane tasks like brushing our teeth or putting on shoes as part of my getting ready morning and night routine. Every morning, as I got ready for the day, we sang: 

“Put on your ROOOOObe” You have to put on your robe 

After bath time to get dressed during my period of transition from the shackles of pullups to the chains of underwear, we'd recite:

“Put on your un-der- WEARR”, you have to put on your underwearrrrrrrrrr

Odd songs to the unfamiliar ear but at the time it was all connected,  those sounds or vowel consonant combinations or multisyllabic words the repetition and routine, the rhythm and the rhyme; these were all steps to language acquisition. 

The Peanut Butter Jelly Song

After graduating from the birth to three listening and spoken language program, I attended a preschool that utilized listening and spoken language with normal-hearing peers where music continued to play a role in my language development. I vividly remember standing in a circle with my classmates, singing the peanut butter jelly song:

“Peanut, peanut butter. And jelly.

Then you take the peanuts and you mash 'em

You mash 'em, mash 'em, mash 'em.

Peanut, peanut butter. And jelly.

Peanut, peanut butter. And jelly.”

We'd mimic the actions described in the song, from mashing peanuts to spreading peanut butter and grape jelly. It was a fun, engaging way to learn about food and language; to this day, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches remain one of my favorite snacks.

These songs were more than just fun activities; they laid the foundation for my love of language and rhythm. Through music and dance, I improved my pronunciation, expanded my vocabulary, and developed a sense of rhythm that has remained a constant in my life. These are some examples that worked for me as a child but the message here isn't just about music and fun. The underlying message is to take a moment and observe what your child enjoys. That will be the most successful therapeutic tool, coupled with the gift of your time. This process will change over time. One moment it may be the characters of Sesame Street, the next is everything that is the color blue. It has often been thought that play is the best way to engage young learners. My earliest memories with those who have been integral parts of my success employed this: Diane, Kristen, Sue, and Tia. I've always been taught that learning should be fun, and my early experiences with music demonstrated the advantage of doing so. Volunteering with preschool children today, I see the cycle repeat. To this day, I find joy in learning new languages and discovering new ways to express myself. Music was my path to language and I hope my experience helps someone else walk along theirs. That is my two cents for today.