For centuries, music has played an essential role in the early cognitive development of young children. Listening to different sounds’ melody, rhythm, and pitch allows them to develop basic speech-language skills.
A great way to get kids interested in music-related activities is by playing instruments with them. Singing and playing instruments is a great way for children to learn about music.
Children who learn a musical instrument early on develop better listening, timekeeping, pitch perception, and motor coordination skills than their peers who do not have the access or the opportunity to enjoy musical education during childhood years.
Additionally, singing and playing instruments promote cognitive development and improve social skills in children. That’s why it is crucial to provide children with the opportunity of engaging with musical knowledge early on.
The relationship between music and early childhood development is a widely researched topic. In a study by Dr. Gordon, the author explains music’s effect on preschool-aged children, focusing mainly on singing and playing instruments in early childhood development.
Children who engage in music-related activities were more likely to:
• create new combinations of familiar tunes
• listen closely to the teacher, follow directions and cooperate with peers
• be more flexible in their daily routines
• embrace challenges, show improved self-esteem and demonstrate a more positive attitude about themselves
Moreover, there is evidence that learning music and movement positively impacts language, social and emotional development, and academic performance. A study by Dr. Bodner has shown that children exposed to early childhood development through music and movement were more academically successful later in life.
Preschool-aged children learn by engaging sensory functions such as the auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. Singing and playing instruments engage a child’s auditory, motor, and cognitive skills. A young kid’s learning environment should include play-based activities that allow children to express themselves and their curiosity. The focus of these activities should be on discovering new abilities rather than mastering a skill.
In a study conducted by Rauscher et al., preschool-aged children who engaged in singing and playing musical instruments displayed improved spatial-temporal reasoning. A follow-up study showed that this had long-lasting impacts on the children’s cognitive development and strategic skills.
Music lessons in early childhood can help children learn better social skills and improve self-esteem and motor skills. It’s an excellent opportunity for parents who want their children exposed to activities that build their overall balance skills and abilities.
Let’s take a deeper dive to understand the interconnectedness between music and early childhood development.
Motor Skills
Making music with body movement, primarily through tapping feet or clapping hands, improves motor skills. Creating music with body movements improves hand-eye coordination, physical reflexes, and overall learning skills.
Engaging the neural pathways built during formative years is vital because they play a foundational role in the child’s personal development. If you don’t engage them early on, then you will be wasting your child’s potential at becoming a well-rounded individual.
The use of music in the development and acquisition of motor skills has been proven time after time. Teaching kids how to play an instrument is also helpful for their muscles. When you’re learning a new skill or just working on tasks requiring precision and coordination of your hands with other movements like blocking out different rhythms while playing basketball – all under time pressure- listening carefully will guide those fine motor skills into place!
Cognitive Development
Music learning builds spatial reasoning skills, pattern awareness, and counting skills. Active involvement in music provides opportunities to exercise learning skills to define a child’s future academic endeavors.
This is because it encourages them to pay attention to detail and build a focused attention span. Learning to do will go a long way in building a disciplined attitude towards learning and becoming an adult who is a quick learner.
Music is an art that has been around for centuries. As time goes on, music therapy in children is becoming popular for those having troubles with cognitive development, such as language skills and movement coordination problems.
Emotional Development
Listening to music has been shown time and again as a way of developing emotional intelligence in kids. The more you listen to music, the better your mood will be overall. Research suggests that children exposed to music at an early age have improved cerebral cortex function, which helps them process information quicker.
Music is indeed an excellent tool for developing emotional intelligence in kids.
A study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that children who listen to music more often establish healthy ways to deal with stressors and better regulate their emotions over time.
The research also found out how specific genres can affect our mental health differently depending upon what type you prefer, like rock or rap – they both have benefits, but one may make us feel melancholic while another will make us contemplative, cheerful, or light.
Wrapping Up
Some people might be surprised to learn that singing and playing instruments are integral parts of early childhood development. The world of sound shows an entirely new dimension that takes your child’s senses to another level!
Singing and playing instruments in early childhood is essential for enhancing mental functionality and social-emotional learning skills. Music and movement effectively increase children’s attention span and provide avenues for physical exercise.
Behavioral studies have shown that children actively engaged in learning musical instruments develop better empathy for others, better intellectual functioning skills, and self-control. There is a strong link between children’s ability and capacity for learning languages, emotional empathy, and social skills.
The impact of music on children’s development throughout the early years is profound. The way they learn music and the extent to which they engage in it can significantly impact their cognitive, social, and emotional development, which can carry on into adulthood.
If you are wondering whether or not you should invest in teaching your child a musical instrument, then the correct answer is that you should. Your kid will only benefit from learning music and movement, so don’t think twice!
