Benefits of Music for Young Children

Many of us are naturally drawn to music. Sometimes, we forget that music is also a great medium for teaching an array of skills to our young children. Here are some of the benefits of music for the development of young children, and how to implement them:

• Songs can stretch our vocabulary. When we listen to or sing songs about your child’s everyday experiences, like The Wheels on the Bus, we’re reinforcing a unique set of everyday vocabulary, like the different parts that make up a bus (e.g. the windows, the door, the horn) and action words associated with them (e.g. open, shut, beep). It gives the young children a chance to hear the same words over and over, which is crucial to their learning, and even practise using those words themselves in the song! Nursery rhymes are great for this repetitive practice.
• Songs can help young children to follow directions. Music and movement go wonderfully together, and can be a great tool for helping children to follow directions. Try singing a song as you march into the house together, or a ‘clean up’ song that cues them to clean up their toys and finish the task.
• Songs can help children to develop early social skills such as turn-taking, like the way we take turns to talk in a conversation. As your child becomes familiar with a song, pause when you come to a favourite part, and let your child take a turn by doing an action, making a sound, or saying the word(s) to complete the line.
• Songs can help to develop early pre-verbal skills, those that form the foundation to communication. Music gives your child the opportunity to attend and look at you, imitate your actions and sounds, tune in and listen to your words. These skills are important building blocks to effective communication and the overall development of your child.

You might also be interested in Why Parents Should Play With Their Kids.

Reference: Pepper, Jan, and Weitzman, Elaine. It Takes Two to Talk. Toronto, The Hanen Centre, 2004.