Learn how music education for children helps in skill development and why these musical moments can bring countless benefits to parents and their kids.
Music is of fundamental importance in in early childhood development, since music education for children is capable of promoting several benefits
These benefits may range from enhancing perception skills, gross motor development, reasoning and literacy, in addition to being a lot of fun. So, it’s not hard to imagine that music education can do wonders for your child’s development.
There are two classic types of music for children: lullabies and play songs. What sets them apart is the tempo.
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Play songs are usually faster and have word games or suggestions of body movements that provide auditory stimulation and the development of motor skills, sociability, language and musical skills.
Lullabies, on the other hand, are slower because they are intended to calm your baby down and encourage sleep.
See how interesting and significant this topic is? Keep on reading to see how your child’s development can be enhanced through music.
What Is The Importance Of Music Education For Children?
Before Birth
Music enters a baby’s life when they are still in their mother’s womb.
Precisely, from the 32nd week of pregnancy, the baby’s auditory system is complete and they already hear relatively well, even in the womb. So, at this time, if you play music for your child, they will already listen to it. However, soothing songs are more recommended.
After Birth
Babies come into the world with a predisposition to process musical sounds. Such skills are present at birth and tend to change with child development and with exposure to music in the first year of life.
Research About Music For Babies
By getting in touch with music from an early age, even if just by listening to it, several benefits are achieved in a child’s life in the medium and long term. This discovery is attributed to psychology professor Susan Hallam at University College London.
For instance, the relationship between lullabies and a lowered baby’s heartbeat and calmer, deeper breathing has also been proven. Keep reading to understand each of these benefits, which include social and physical skills.
What Are The Benefits Of Music Education for Children?
Music Favors Learning
In another study, neuroscientists at the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences investigated the influence of music on the babies’ brains. The result was brain activation, so the auditory and prefrontal cortices changed.
Such regions are linked to speech and music processing. When altered, they indicate benefits in the babies’ development, favoring learning. Therefore, music education for children works on their social and affective skills from an early age.
Music Stabilizes The Mood
Many babies can get irritated easily and for no clear reason. Both they and their parents suffer with this mood change. The result is a baby who cries a lot, throws a tantrum and kicks even though caregivers try their best to get around the situation.
At this point, music can help because it releases endorphins – one of the hormones of happiness – in the baby’s body. In addition, there is a decrease in cortisol, the stress hormone. Thus, it is easy to understand why the baby’s irritability decreases.
Music Brings Peace Of Mind
Sometimes, when a baby is restless, they take time to sleep and don’t let anyone in their house relax. At these times, bet on music! Calm songs, such as lullabies, bring peace of mind to your baby.
You can put on some music for your child to enjoy. Singing it to them can also help because when they hear their parents’ voice, chances are they will be calmer and fall asleep more easily.
Music Promotes Motor Development
It is possible to develop your child’s motor skills through music. When encouraged to clap to the rhythm of the song, tap their feet, dance or play instruments, your child works on their gross and fine motor skills.
So, try to create moments to dance with your child and encourage them to move their body. Use creativity, such as using pots instead of drums, and containers full of grains instead of rattles. Domestic objects can become good musical instruments.
Music Improves Social Skills
By listening to music and dancing, your baby can become a more sociable person. This happens because they learn how to interact and share their feelings with other children, with adults and with the world.
Music can stimulate neural circuits which are related to empathy, cooperation and trust. The result is the baby’s ability to connect with other people and thus reduce impulsive behavior.
Music Encourages Cooperation And Builds Relationships
In general, music is a team effort through which each participant adds his or her sound or voice to the song.
With that in mind, imagine a parade of children playing instruments as they walk through the preschool. This is yet another way to encourage cooperation and build relationships.
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What Skills Are Developed in Babies Through Music?
We have already seen the benefits of music in child development. Now, here is a list of skills developed through music education for children:
- Language and literacy skills;
- Cognitive skills;
- Physical skills (motor);
- Social and emotional skills.
How To Add Music To Your Child’s Routine
There are many ways to add music to your child’s life. Many of them are instinctual. Moms, dads, aunties and other people often sing to babies while rocking them in a fun way.
They may not even know it, but this is already one good way of bringing music to a baby’s life. However, you can also do this in a thoughtful way, precisely so that your child can enjoy all the benefits that music can bring.
In addition to the music classes for babies, which were mentioned above, you can also find several music activities for babies, toddlers and preschoolers in our app, with step-by-step videos.
Next, check out a couple of examples of music activities you can do with your children.
Clapping Hands
For this activity, which stimulates your little one’s rhythm, play a song that your baby likes. Then clap your hands to the rhythm of the song and encourage your little one to do the same.
Music stimulates the temporal lobe, the area of the brain that processes sound. Do this activity whenever you listen to music with your child.
Move To The Beat Of The Music
This activity encourages body expression and works on gross motor skills and artistic expression. Start by handing your child a handkerchief and then play songs of different rhythms.
Tell them to move the handkerchief up and down and from side to side whenever the music plays. Also tell them to stand still when the song stops.
Music education for children is not only fun, but it also fosters multiple aspects of your little one’s physical and emotional development while singing and dancing.
Finally, another important factor is that when you share a song with your little one, you experience another way of giving and receiving love.
Now, how about downloading the Kinedu app to join our Music Classes with your child and access more than 1,800 activities created by experts in early childhood?
