Kids and Music
June 07, 2021 by DaveesP
Music has no language but it is a language in itself. Every child’s brain is wired to learn music, just the way it is designed to learn languages. Children are born with the potential to develop a bond with music and it’s the parents who can nurture the love for music in their children. Music can play a big role in a child's early life and development. Research has proven the innumerable benefits of exposing children to music from an early stage! Singing and listening to music during pregnancy has been associated with multiple benefits like reducing stress levels, fetal brain development and strengthening the mother's bond with the child. Here’s why and how exposing your child to music can set the stage for developing a lifelong musical connection:
Know the Benefits
Studies have shown the earlier a child is exposed to music, the better is their brain’s stimulation! Yes, a child’s brain can benefit from music even before they actually start walking or talking. Know the benefits of musical connections in your child’s life:
Cognitive skills and spatial intelligence
Music is known to improve a child's thinking skills as it provides a natural opportunity to practice patterns and mathematical concepts. Structured music lessons and participation in musical activities are are known to enhance child’s memory, concentration power and spatial-temporal reasoning skills.
Sensory development
Music is known to improve sensory development in toddlers. At this stage, the brain development happens at an incredible rate and your child something new from every experience. Just like any other sense - taste, smell, vision or touch - listening to music promotes sensory development in your child by creating pathways in their brain cells. Using bells, triangles, drums or other easy-to-use musical instruments engages the child even more, thriving his brain cells.
Language, literacy and communications skills
Music can stimulate various senses in your child which can help him/her in learning languages as well as improving communication skills. Kids get to learn new words while singing and often crack the correct pronunciation without being taught explicitly. Besides improving fluency of speech music helps in developing reading and writing skills.
Emotional intelligence and social skills
Music can evoke emotions at any age, but as a child it can help uplift your child’s mood (by listening to fun rhymes) or soothe them into a comfortable deep sleep (by singing or playing calm lullabies). Music can help your child develop social and emotional skills, such as self-regulation, self-confidence and socio-emotional intelligence.
Together Time = Music Time
Enjoying music with your baby is an activity which both of you can enjoy together and can strengthen the bond between you two. Raise musical awareness in your child in a playful manner, never impose any rules. Encourage him/her to hum or complete lines of a familiar song while you sing or play it. Slowly ask them to sing along and witness the joy of music spread through their smile.
Sing and Move
There can be many ways to sing and move with your child. Clapping activities along the song’s rhythm or dancing along while listening to music are extremely engaging for kids.
Pick a playlist
Select the songs that appeal to children and play them on loop! These can be popular rhymes or some soothing classics - make it a routine of listening to it regularly and updating the list in a few days.
Lullabies and Rhymes
Infants start responding to sounds they hear just after they are born. As they move from infant to toddler stage and higher, they can themselves start humming or singing simple songs/rhymes.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION