The Benefits of Music in Early Childhood

Benefits of Music

The Benefits of Music and Movement in Early Childhood Education

Music is a beloved pastime for young children that they are constantly exposed to in their everyday lives at home and in school. However, did you know that music plays a crucial role in their early childhood development? Engaging in musical activities is one of the best forms of play for children and can have a significant impact on their growth.

How the benefits of music can help your child’s development

Here are some compelling reasons why you should make music a regular part of your child’s activities at home.

Cognitive development

According to Dr. Ibrahim Baltagi, a music expert featured on UNICEF.org, babies start hearing music in the womb as early as 16-18 weeks. After birth, music serves as a powerful tool to stimulate all areas of brain development, enhance creativity and imagination, and even help a baby recognize familiar sounds.

Music builds overall brain development and creates pathways in the brain that improve a child’s cognitive functioning.

Every Shichida At Home video lesson incorporates music and songs that you and your child can sing and dance to, all while reinforcing important concepts such as colors, sizes, letters and numbers.

With the 6-month subscription, you will have access to a full library of songs tailor made for your child’s age – songs that you can watch and listen to any time you like!

Check out how Shichida At Home can help develop your child’s cognitive ability from the comfort of your home, all while facilitating that all-important bond between parent and child.

Language and vocabulary

A 2016 study at the University of Southern California found that musical experiences in childhood can significantly enhance language acquisition and reading skills.

By repeating favorite tunes, kids can memorize new words and get familiar with grammar patterns. As a result, they’ll communicate more effectively and read with ease and understanding. Encourage your little ones to sing along and see their vocabulary flourish!

Numbers and mathematics

According to the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM Foundation), learning an instrument can also improve number skills and mathematics.

Playing music involves counting beats per minute and formulaic progressions and reinforces parts of the brain used when doing maths.

Auditory perception

Auditory perception is key to understanding what we hear and is crucial to developing strong reading skills in children. Kids need to be able to distinguish different sounds, blend them together and take them apart in order to effectively read and write words. One great way to help children improve their auditory perception is through classic songs and rhymes. These fun activities require minimal effort but have a big impact on developing essential skills. Nonsense rhymes are especially helpful in training a child’s ear to pick up on sound patterns.

Sound patterns

Rhymes, poems, and songs help in shaping our ability to recognize sound patterns. Your child will be exposed to these patterns through:

  • rhyming
  • rhythm
  • instruments
  • syllables in words
  • stress patterns in a song
  • alliteration, etc.

Studies show that understanding patterns lays the groundwork for literacy and numeracy. By incorporating musical activities into a child’s learning, they can develop the skills they need to excel in reading, writing, spelling, and math.

Motor skills

Motor skills, particularly fine motor skills, are important for learning how to write. They are developed in various ways during musical activity such as:

  • Finger plays
  • Action rhymes
  • Playing with instruments

Coordination and gross motor skills are also extremely important for a child’s sensory development. These can be developed with:

  • Action rhymes
  • Playing with large instruments
  • Music games (e.g. musical statues)
  • Dancing

Self-expression

Music and movement give your child a creative outlet that fosters their development and self-expression. Music empowers children to freely express themselves without fear of judgment, nurturing their creativity from a young age. Exploring the wonder of music will allow your child to grow into a confident and expressive individual.

Memory skills

Endlessly playing the same song on repeat can drive parents crazy, but there’s actually a purpose behind those repetitive children’s songs. By singing along with these tunes, children are able to develop their memory skills – a crucial ability that will serve them well in their academic and personal lives. Not only do these songs improve auditory skills, but they offer a fun and engaging way to practice memorization that feels less like a chore and more like playtime.

General well-being

Music is a fun and uplifting activity that soothes the soul, especially for children who are naturally drawn to its melodious tunes. Unlike adults, they aren’t self-conscious or burdened by judgment, allowing them to sing and move freely without fear or inhibition. With the ever-growing stress and anxiety that surrounds our society today, it’s crucial to promote activities that promote inner peace and well-being for children, and music should be at the top of the list.

The influence of music at different stages of growth

At different stages of your child’s development, your child will grow to love and appreciate music on different levels.

Here are some tips on how to use music and movement to help your child throughout the various stages of their development.

For infants

Did you know that babies can recognize melodies before they even understand language? Soothe your little one with quiet background music during sleep time. Singing short, simple songs about daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating can also add some fun and bonding to your routine. Give it a try and watch your baby’s response!

For toddlers

Get those toddlers dancing and grooving! Repetition is the secret behind getting your toddler to enjoy music and helps strengthen their language skills and memory. Don’t forget silly songs too, they never fail to make little ones giggle. Mix it up by adding a silly word to a familiar song, such as replacing “lamb” with “spider” in “Mary Had a Little Spider.” And if you want to promote rhythm, encourage your toddlers to clap and tap objects.

For pre-schoolers

Let your preschooler’s voice roar! They love to sing without self-consciousness and will happily repeat simple words and rhythms with a beat. Give them songs that ask them to move and follow directions. They will absolutely adore nursery rhymes about familiar things like toys, animals, and people. Don’t forget the fingerplays and silly rhymes. Fuel their love of singing and watch them shine!

For school-age children

School-age kids often show a keen interest in music education and will most likely be able to express personal tastes and biases towards certain styles of music. Your child may express a desire for kids’ music lessons – an excellent opportunity to further develop their passion for music by encouraging to learn to play a musical instrument of their choosing.

Make music a part of your child’s life

From boosting language and social skills to providing sheer pleasure and joy, music has numerous benefits for kids of all ages. Whether it’s singing, dancing, or simply listening, fun musical activities can enrich the lives of children and their caregivers. So, why not introduce your little ones to the wonderful world of music today?

Here are some ways that you can incorporate music into your child’s life:

Play music that YOU love

Make music time with your baby fun and interactive by playing songs you genuinely enjoy. Contrary to popular belief, there’s no need to limit yourself to classical music to harness the benefits of baby music time. Babies have no music preferences, and they can benefit from listening to a wide variety of genres. Feel free to mix it up by playing an array of appropriate tunes, from pop and rock to classical and jazz. Don’t forget to add your personal favorites into the mix as well.

Match sounds with movement

Get your baby moving to music! Sing and dance with your little one and add some fun movements. Whether you’re grooving in the kitchen, bouncing in the nursery, or rocking outdoors, get your baby in on the fun. Teach them to clap their hands, move their arms, legs, and feet along with the music. And when songs describe actions or use words like “high,” “low,” “in,” or “out,” help your baby act them out with fun hand and arm motions. Let’s get moving and grooving with our little ones!

Shichida At Home video lessons offer a variety of songs that will have your child singing and dancing as they’re learning important concepts such as colors, sizes, letters and numbers.

With the 6-month subscription, you will have access to a full library of songs tailor made for your child’s age – songs that you can watch and listen to any time you like!

Check out how Shichida At Home can help develop your child’s cognitive ability from the comfort of your home, all while facilitating that all-important bond between parent and child. Try your FREE TRIAL today!

Go to a music class with your baby

Find a small, interactive class focused on movement and sound exploration. Your little one will join other infants and parents to discover various instruments and sounds. Not only will they develop social, language, and motor skills, but they’ll also boost creativity, confidence, and more. Don’t stop the learning after class ends – continue at home and watch your child grow!

Make music at home

Unleash your inner musician from the comfort of your own kitchen! Instead of splurging on expensive instruments, grab some pots, pans, and wooden spoons from your cabinets. Get creative by using dried beans as shakers and add in some rattles and bells for extra flair. This is a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy – start your very own kitchen band today!

Put music into daily activities

You don’t need to block out time to enjoy your favorite tunes. Incorporate them into daily activities like getting ready or bathing. Parents can even make diaper changes and car rides more fun by adding a musical twist. Embrace the power of music and infuse your day with rhythm and melody.

Find live performances

Discover the joy of exploring exciting new sounds and social settings with your baby through live music outings! Whether it’s a relaxed library performance or a lively outdoor festival, these events make for a fun and easy way to break free from the house. Kick things off at your local bookstore or coffee shop or check out summer family concerts in your area. Your child might even be able to discover their favorite band!

References 

Horizons, Bright. “6 Tips to Introduce Your Baby to Music.” Www.brighthorizons.com, 27 Feb. 2019, www.brighthorizons.com/resources/Blog/6-tips-introduce-baby-to-music. 

Journey, Petit. “Why Music and Movement Matter in Early Childhood.” Petit Journey, 15 Sept. 2021, www.petitjourney.com.au/music-and-movement-in-early-childhood-education/. 

Mcilroy, Tanja. “The Importance of Music in Early Childhood Development.” Empowered Parents, 24 June 2021, empoweredparents.co/how-your-preschooler-learns-through-music-activities/. 

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