CSD Fall Workshop 2017 with Iris Nason

At the Fall Workshop Iris shared some ideas for music and movement songs/activities you could do to build in some body and sensory awareness. As with all activities, feel free to expand on them and adapt them to fit your audience.

Quick note about making music and movement activities inclusive to families with mobility or motor disabilities, courtesy Bryce Kozla, Youth Librarian II from WCCLS:

Miss Iris spoke well on Saturday about the role of sensory concerns in her programs. In order to make music/movement activities like those Miss Iris shared more inclusive to families with mobility or motor disabilities, here are a couple of things that could go a long way:

• Make it clear up front and throughout that preciseness is not an expectation. While this is an assumption many children make, children with mobility/motor disabilities can be hyperaware of how their movements differ from their peers. Sample: “We will be moving and posing in lots of different ways today—make sure to move in whatever way that works best for you. This could be sitting when others are standing, or making small movements when others are making big movements. The most important thing is that we are here to have fun moving our bodies around!”
• When promoting the program, something like “All abilities invited” will signal to families that this program won’t expect perfection.
• When doing movements, try to switch up the kinds of motions so no one is going too long without a sequence they’re able to do. For example, if you are moving from a bear on all fours to a rabbit on all fours, anyone with trouble crouching will be excluded from two entire movements in a row ! Think deliberately about what each movement is asking your participants to do and plan accordingly.
• Don’t single out anyone who looks like they’re having trouble. Chances are they are making the movement work best for them!

If you have any questions about the above, please feel free to email Bryce at brycek@wccls.org

Thank you, Bryce, for your words of wisdom!