“Hold your right hand up to the sky”. Up shoots 5 year old Jamie’s right hand. “Well done.”
“Can you show me the third finger of your left hand?” At the age of 4 Susan knows her right and left hand finger numbers.
In piano lesson Jamie, Susan and I play fun games finding finger numbers on each hand. Playing these games at home gives Susan and Jamie a head start with piano.
Children as young as 2 years can start separating their fingers and learning the finger numbers. Body part awareness increases a sense of being and brings confidence to little ones who enjoy learning to control their movements. Finger plays and games exercise both sides of the brain. This is excellent pre-instrumental training and hand-eye co-ordination.
Helping children learn their right hand from their left hand before they start school is of great benefit to them.
Traditional Finger Plays can be modified to suit your child and his or her interests and abilities.
Further activities for helping young children remember their Finger Numbers
Origami cups made from a paper folding plan are used as simple finger puppets. Make one cup from 5 different coloured pieces of paper or colour in plain paper cups in 5 different colours. Write the finger numbers on each one and play various games to help your child learn the finger numbers. The children loved doing this in Early Learning Music classes this week.
