The Importance of Music in a Child’s Development
5th June 2016
Music is all around us and present in our lives, sometimes without even realising it. Whether walking down the street, shopping or driving in the car, we encounter different types of music which we might take for granted.
Music has such a huge impact on who we are as people, that it’s importance should never be overlooked, especially when it comes to young children and their exposure to it.
Music has the ability to kindle many areas of a child’s development outside of the standard academic capacity. It helps them to evolve socially and emotionally, as well as enhancing language, literacy and other intellectual skills.
So let’s take a closer look at the importance of music in your child’s development and why now is the perfect time to introduce them to music, regardless of their age.
Why is it important?
Listening to music not only enhances the obvious listening skills, but it sparks a whole range of other things like singing, playing, dancing and moving, and all of these carry their own benefits for children of all ages.
Feel-good factor
Have you ever wondered why listening to music makes you feel good? Well it’s because endorphins are released in the brain. Endorphins are sometimes referred to as ‘natural opiates’ for the way they can lift a mood, giving us a positive state of mind that releases energy and makes us feel good all-round.
Young babies might not be able to understand the words of a song, but they can recognise a melody and enjoy the stimulation they get from listening to it. So anyone can benefit from the feel-good factor of music, even newborn babies!
Vocabulary and listening skills
Singing along to songs can widen your child’s vocabulary, exposing them to new words that they might not have heard before. Listening to the same songs regularly, perhaps on the radio, and hearing the same rhymes will allow them to recognise new words even more and remember them.
Coordination
The ability to coordinate is not something we are born able to do naturally, rather it is something we can learn. Learning to play a musical instrument requires drawing on a number of skills all at once, such as listening, singing, playing and reading the music, which all contribute to overall good coordination.
Creativity and imagination
A child’s energy can be channelled into music. Their creative juices can flow as there is no right or wrong when it comes to making music. Also, participating in music helps strengthen cognitive skills and therefore strengthens the memory.
Social integration
Making music with other children is a great social experience for any young child. Playing instruments together teaches children to work as part of a team. This is a dynamic activity as each child will contribute in their own way.
Self-expression
Playing music to your child will naturally stir feelings of movement in them, making them want to dance. Giving them the chance to dance and enjoy the music helps build motor skills i.e muscle strength. It is also a huge sensory experience for them, as they are listening, singing, moving, seeing etc. which helps develop their processing.
Develop a love for music
Most of all, music can be a great enjoyment, passion or even hobby, for some. So while your child is still only young, try and make this as enjoyable for them as possible. If you have a toddler, sing along with them to songs they know well, but swap in different words, such as “Mary had a little spider”. This will start a silly game that will no doubt make your little one laugh and strengthen their love for music and songs.
To learn about the range of activities we carry out here at Tiny World, please do not hesitate to contact us today; we can even arrange for you to come and visit our premises.