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.