Music has the ability to make us cry or laugh; it can bring back a memory with a single note. “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent,” said noted author Victor Hugo. Music can have an incredible impact upon our children. So it is important for children to begin listening to music at an early age and continue through childhood.
What type of music should I play?
Infants love to hear the sound of their mother’s voice, especially when singing. The rhythm and often rhyme that is found in music helps them later develop speech, the repetition is also comforting. Research has shown that infants that listen to classical music such as Bach or Beethoven increase their learning capacity.
As toddlers and preschoolers children love classic songs like “Old MacDonald”, “The Wheels on the Bus”, or “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. These songs are simple, with concepts that are easy for them to understand. They also have repetition which children at this age love.
Grade school children enjoy songs that are humorous and tell stories. They will probably be more reluctant to sing themselves but will enjoy listening.
It is important to expose your child to a wide variety of music from classical to country and everything in between. There are some incredible jazz musicians as well as old and new pop artists. Just make sure that if the song has lyrics that they are appropriate for children.
When should I play music?
Music can be played anytime.
- I like to sing songs with my children during bath-time or while riding in the car.
- You can turn on music while working and cleaning the house; it will provide a great distraction.
- Music is also a great mood lifter, if tensions are high turn on some soft music and watch it relax your family.
- Dancing, or as my 6 year old says “Jammin”, to music can be a lot of fun for the entire family.
- Many parents find that their children like to listen to relaxing music while going to sleep.
The when doesn’t matter, what is important is playing it. For as Red Auerbach so eloquently said, “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”