Much research has been carried out over the years on the importance of exposing young children to music. How at an early age, music can enrich their language, literacy, social development, cognition, attention span, mathematical, motor and self-regulation skills.
 
Whether you sing lullabies to your little one, play them classical music or crank up your own favourite tunes, research shows that introducing children to music has long-term developmental benefits. We look at some of the benefits and give you some suggestions for making music at home.
 

Benefits of music

Some of the many benefits of music include:

• Music helps the brain develop the areas that are used in language and reasoning.

• A young child’s brain continues to develop rapidly after birth and exposure to music is beneficial to the left brain where language processing takes place.

• Music fosters creativity, self-expression and self-esteem.

• Music promotes mental health.

• Music promotes parent-child bonding through rocking, swaying, singing and dancing.

• Music encourages movement, rhythm and timing which aids in gross and fine motor development.

• Music fosters complex listening skills.

• Music can teach problem-solving skills.

• Children who are exposed to music and/or play an instrument often do better in school.

• Music can raise a child’s IQ.

Making music at home

• Let your little ones bang on pots and pans with wooden spoons and other suitable cooking utensils to create their own music.

• Have music playing whilst you are in the car or spending time relaxing at home.

• Alternate your bedtime stories with bedtime songs.

• Join a music class and movement class with your little one.

• Teach your little one songs and nursery rhymes with gestures such as ‘Incy Wincy Spider’, ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ or ‘Wheels on the Bus’.

• Make shakers out of empty plastic bottles, tin can drums from old cans or even drums made out of a cardboard box.

• Encourage dancing, clapping or marching to the beat.

• Go to outdoor family-friendly music festivals.

• Watch musicals together on TV or at the theatre and sing along.

• Provide your little one with shop-bought or homemade musical instruments, or visit markets, garage sales and second-hand stores for other options.

Via