CHANGING LIVES

Talking and Singing Promote Healthy Learning for Children

Posted by Maryvale on Mar 14, 2023 5:32:20 PM

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This month, we celebrate Music in our Schools month. If you've ever observed a child reacting to music by singing along, creating new melodies, moving their bodies, or starting a group dance with other children, you've witnessed music's powerful effect on children. From the moment a child is born, their brains develop at an unbelievable speed. Children's neurons develop by the millions, and they are constantly seeking information and material to fuel their cognitive growth. Through words and song, adults can help promote and accelerate this development in a child's early years. 

 

A recent study revealed that music has the potential to influence many areas of a child's learning – including their language, social, and motor skills, as well as their ability to think critically and perform academically. Music presents a fabulous opportunity to engage children's many senses in the classroom, on the playground, and at home. At Maryvale, we integrate music into classroom activities to promote creativity with instruments, creative movement, dance, and experimentation with sound. We show children different types of music from various cultures and parts of the world, and we invite children to sing, learn melodies, and engage with stories through song. We believe that singing is just one way to create a language-rich environment for children that supports their ability to learn and retain new words. 

 

How does singing contribute to learning? 

Rhyming, rhythms, repetition, and melodies support children as they learn the meaning and relevance of new words. Singing improves children's grasp of phonics as it helps them connect sounds, letters, and meanings. Just as a person's tone of voice conveys the feeling behind a statement, a song can convey a word's meaning and subtext very effectively. Plus, music is energizing and joyful. Singing and dancing imbues children with optimism and openness and helps frame the classroom as a space of magical discovery.

 

How else does music support a child's development?

Not all children love to sing – which is ok (though we still encourage parents to be vocal and sing to their children!). Hand a child a drum, maraca, tambourine, or keyboard, and watch as they explore everything they can do to make a sound. Whether or not there are song lyrics involved, practicing a rhythm or melody helps a child learn memorization and makes them laugh. If you don't have musical instruments at home, don't worry! Clapping your hands is a fun way to find a rhythm. A child might learn how to hum, whistle, or snap to make sounds, as well. 

 

A strong musical understanding can also coincide with a child's ability to learn about numbers, space, and time. It is no coincidence that children who excel in math often have a musical side, as well. Music can help children bridge the gap between the world of numbers and the creative realm of self-expression.

 

How can Parents Support a Child's Musical Journey?

It starts by welcoming songs into your home. From the moment a child is born, talk to them and sing songs! If you run out of songs, say what you're going to say to your child in a sing-song voice. Their brains will be intensely captivated by this activity, and you can watch them grow in their attentiveness to your voice and personality. 

 

Once your child enters preschool and beyond, pay attention to their response to music. Introduce them to joyful, uplifting music at home, and nurture their interest in songs, musical artists, and cultural ideas around music. The more you empower a child to follow their musical interest, the more vibrant the world can become for them. As a child grows up, music continues to carry powerful benefits, from relieving stress to supporting focus. 

 

 At Maryvale, we are strong proponents of integrating music with classroom activities. Learn more about our early childhood education program. 

Topics: child development

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