From Kazoos to Clapping: Music Influences Children

From Kazoos to Clapping: Music Influences Children


Toddlers dig their tiny hands into a tub of colorful wooden claves until they find two matching pieces.




What may look like plain, uninspiring painted sticks are actually gateways to building language, social and motor skills at an early age.

 

The same can be said with sharing a tambourine or clapping or singing with a child. While there is magic in music, there is also science behind it too. 

 

Studies have proven that music is the key to active brain development in young children. As a result of giving your children the opportunity to listen and dance to music, they have a greater chance of having academic success in the future. This also applies to when children learn to play a musical instrument. According to Time, children who are taught to play an instrument can hear sounds and tones that other people cannot hear, which improve literacy.

 

Music education for children is essential for them to gain skills associated with learning quicker and more efficiently, especially when it comes to two main growth areas.

 

Social and Motor Skills

 

Children develop better social skills when music is incorporated into their childhood learning. The Conversation stated that children are less anxious when they take music lessons because they are better equipped to handle their emotions.

 

Listening and participating in musical activities as a child can also improve motor skills. A good example of this would be children participating in hand clapping songs. According to the article Music Interventions and Child Development, children who actively clapped during songs performed better with hand-eye motor sequences. They were also better learners.

 

Language

 

Research highlights young children who listen and dance to music have better language skills in the future. According to Psych Central, infants later understand language when they are exposed to music. This is because they are able to connect melodies with sentences at an early age. Also, creating music at a young age allows children to adapt to changes in language around them.

 

By understanding and playing music at a young age, children increase their chances of developing higher IQ’s. PBS has stated that students who are given music lessons tend to have 3 IQ points higher than their classmates, on average.

 

Music education at daycares, preschools and grade schools is necessary for proper childhood brain development. Facilities, including Little Lukes Preschool and Daycare Center, located all around Central New York, have programs, which include musical lessons and sing-alongs. This not only makes for a fun-filled environment for your child, but also a productive learning possibility.

Learn more about the exciting Little Lukes Preschool & Childcare Center music program our students adore by taking a tour today!

Little Lukes is a leading Central New York daycare provider with five locations. Our early education program is made up of credentialed and caring staff that specializes in comprehensive infant, toddler and pre-kindergarten development. Additional services include speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy for babies, toddlers and preschool children.