Check it Out! Products You Can Use: Fun, Health and Rock & Roll

Fun, Health and Rock & Roll

What if I told you there was one toy that your child could play with that would deliver the benefits of music therapy, dance therapy and kinesthetic therapy all at the same time? Sounds like a hard-working toy, but the best part is that it’s one of the most fun-loving and spirit-raising products you could introduce your child to.

At first glance, the PopTunes Big Rocker Guitar by Little Tikes appears to be a child-size electronic guitar with five contemporary pop songs to play, strings to strum and a “whammy bar” to add musical interest.

But if you use it as a motivator to get your child jumping, jamming and jazzing around, you’ll soon realize its potential. Playing the guitar – especially in a rocking and rolling way – can give your child’s heart, lungs and circulatory system a healthy workout. Moving and jamming around help with children’s kinetic awareness, balance and coordination.

Let your child select from the five pre-recorded pop songs or watch a music video and have them imagine playing along with the band. Music is one of the best avenues for expressing creativity, activating the brain and triggering positive emotions.

In addition to a full body workout, the two-handed play increases bilateral coordination as one hand holds the guitar and the other strums. Fingering the buttons also helps strengthen a child’s fine motor skills — dexterity they need for dressing, eating or writing.

What’s more, music is a magnet for inclusion. It connects children of all abilities and recruits them immediately into a shared experience. So put your guitar-carrying kid on stage in a corner of your home and watch even a shy child cope with the attention. A sense of rhythm, self-confidence and self-esteem will no doubt be there by the end of the show.

Check out PopTunes Big Rocker Guitar and other play products that deliver more than just fun at www.ableplay.org.

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