Children are our future, so it is up to us to teach them as much as possible. Kids’ brains are blank slates ready to build connections and form ideas; to help them learn as much as they can, they should be exposed to all types of information. One parent in particular appreciates just how effective alternative teaching methods can be.
Amanda Gray is the mother of five children, and she is passionate about giving them the tools for success. Her youngest son, Bo, has down syndrome. He is only 2 years old, but he is progressing nicely. He owes much of his intellectual success to his sister, Lydia.
Lydia is a few years older than Bo, and one of her favorite hobbies is playing the guitar. She is pretty good – she can already play without looking at a music sheet. Whenever she spends quality time with her baby brother, she takes the opportunity to show off her guitar skills.
Lydia likes to play simple songs for Bo and include him on the fun. One day, while she was strumming away at her guitar, her mother caught a glimpse of the sweet interaction between the two. She just had to grab her camera.
Amanda recorded an adorable video of Lydia playing “You Are My Sunshine” to baby Bo and singing along with it. “My daughter Lydia was watching Bo while I was in the shower,” Amanda explained on a Facebook post. “[I] came out to this. If she didn’t have a guitar I don’t know if she would know how to babysit him.”
When Lydia performs for her brother, she likes to pause at the end of each line. She gives Bo a chance to sing along with her here, helping him to develop his vocabulary, memory, and self confidence. What a terrific way to spend quality time together!
“This is her go to,” Amanda shared. “Its proof that music therapy works. Bo is 25 months old and has a 12 word vocabulary. Every word he has learned has been through music and singing.”
This proud mother could not be more thrilled with her baby boy’s progress, or with the fact that her daughter is such an amazing big sister. Bo might learn more slowly than most children his age, but with the help of his loving family, he is sure to be a success.
This heartwarming story reminds us of how much we can accomplish when we support one another.
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