It has been said that "play is a child's work."  It is through play that children learn.  This leads to a common question among parents-which is better, independent play or play guided by a caregiver?  In general, a combination of the two is ideal.  While children learn through imitation, they perfect skills through repetition.

In order to help maximize the benefit of guided play, caregivers can create an important new dimension with the addition of music.  The inclusion of a musical component to normal play allows a child to develop their memory skills in a way that utilizes their auditory skills as well as their senses of touch and sight.  For example, singing a simple tune while stacking blocks adds value to that type of play.

According to the National Association of Education for Young Children, "Children are natural musicians, and exposure to music in the early years enhances the learning process by promoting language development, creativity, coordination, and social interaction.  Caregivers can play an important role by incorporating music and movement into a child's life." 

One example of expanding play with music is to add a made-up song to everyday play ("This is the sound a monkey makes to the tune of "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush") expands the play even further. Encouraging children to make up their own uses for toy pieces or creating their own songs offers them the opportunity to play creatively and build their confidence as young learners.

Sources:

Norman M. Weinberger and the Regents of the University of California (1996). Sing, Sing, Sing!, Musica Research Notes.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (1997). Music Appreciation: A Universal Language for All Ages.

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