Westlife Ministries

Ministries - Mainly Music

The aim of mainly music is to provide an environment where young children develop skills to enhance their early education, through the use of music, rhythm, rhyme, and other music related activities with the participation of a parent or primary caregiver.

Started in 1990, mainly music is a fun music group for parents or primary care givers to enjoy together with their young child. Throughout the morning, children develop gross and fine motor skills, language, imagination, mathematical and pre-reading skills as well as socialize with others. Each mainly music is associated with and is run by volunteers from a local church. Children are introduced to music, creativity and more, plus families given a chance to think about the God-part of life. Amazing to think that all this can be achieved in a loving, shared family environment.

About mainly music

Young children and their caregivers enjoying music, rhyme, rhythm, creative dance and more.

Young children developing skills - co-ordination, fine motor movements, large motor movements, social interaction, appreciation of music and musical styles, language development.

Providing children with a structured learning environment and then a time of free play.

Bringing adult and child together for a time of safe interaction, and in doing so, teaching adults rhymes and songs that can be used at home to help with cleaning up, colours, counting, and more.

An opportunity for parents to network with other parents of young children.

Workshops and courses are sometimes offered to help enhance parenting skills.

Events are held to encourage family fun … such as family nights.

Opportunities for families to be helped - practical needs such as meals, transport, babysitting.

Celebration of Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day - reminding parents that they are undertaking a very important role as parent.

In short, mainly music is an opportunity for adults and young children to build memories and spend time together, sharing special time with each other the aim of mainly music.

A quick overview

Each week, parents and caregivers bring their children for a thirty-minute session of music, rhyme, movement, listening and more. The adults must participate in the session, and in fact, it is vital that they do so, because this encourages the children to enter into the actions and singing.
At this session, adults and children are given snacks and refreshments. This allows time for children to enjoy each others company, and to develop social skills. It also allows those adults who don’t have a wide circle of friends to be introduced to others who have young children and they are therefore able to support each other.

For more information about Mainly Music, please contact the team leaders Emma Nicholson & Chloe Goode