Wriggle and Rhyme

We have talked a lot about Wriggle and Rhyme since we started it at Rodney Libraries last year. Wriggle & Rhyme: Active Movement for early learning is an initiative which allows parents, babies and toddlers to learn and participate in active movement experiences which can contribute to early literacy development. It has evolved from a 2008 Auckland and SPARC (Sport and Recreation NZ) initiative. In Rodney is it run as a partnership between Sport North Harbour, SPARC and Rodney Libraries.

We are continually getting new parents (sometimes grandparents) and children along to Wriggle and Rhyme Sessions in Rodney. The librarians who present the programme in the library are enthusiastic about encouraging children to participate. Last week we had the opportunity to learn some new skills from Tessa Grigg and Brian Ringrose who together form Tessarose, children's performers. A lot of the music we use in Wriggle and Rhyme comes from this Kiwi duo who are based in the South Island, but had a "holiday" in the north (which included several workshops).

Tessa is a qualified educator and both she and Brian are passionate about focusing on education through music. It was very interesting to hear the science and background that goes into some of the simplest of songs, rhymes and actions. One of the key words that keeps coming up is "vestibular". The vestibular system contributes to our balance and spatial awareness. Obviously this is important to all of us and is something that needs to be learnt by babies to be able to walk and move around. The way we exercise the vestibular in Wriggle and Rhyme is by doing lots of up and down, side to side, backwards and forwards, round and round movements. We also try to include some upside down, although this is introduced in a gentle way so that babies do not get a fright.

The workshop last week was also valuable in a practical sense as we heard how Tessrose put sessions together and watch them perform the songs as they were intended to be done. Brian and Tessa practice what they preach by going out and performing regularly to pre-school and school audiences (including several sessions throughout Auckland while they were here on "holiday").

"Bounce to language" is on of Tessa's catchphrases. She points to a wide range of resources which back up the link between movement, music and picking up on language at an early age, including the story of her own son who started reading ahead of his peers. It was only in hindsight that she recognised that he travelled with Tessarose to performances three to five times a week as a toddler and took part in all of them.

Although the Tessarose catalogue includes DVD's, Tessa enthuses that "people learn more from personal experience than they do from the one dimensional, for example TV". I was also intrigued by stories told by pregnant mums who had attended regular sessions, who said their babies seemed to recognise different songs and become more active in the womb when they came on.

Look out for all the Tessarose resources in Rodney Libraries and visit their website if you have the chance. And come into Rodney Libraries at the following times to try out a Wriggle and Rhyme session for yourself.

Helensville : Wednesdsay @ 10.30 am

Mahurangi East : Thursday @ 9.30 am

Warkworth : Thursday @ 10.30 am

Whangaparaoa : Fridays @ 10.00 am

Kumeu : Fridays @ 10.30 am

Orewa : Fridays @ 11.30 am