Music is a powerful tool that is available to parents during the formative years of their children's development. Starting from birth, newborn babies recognize their parents' voices. When the rest of the world is unrecognizable, familiar sound patterns can have a soothing effect. Parents often sing lullabies to create a calm environment. This early exposure to music helps develop baby's brain by creating neuron pathways. When young children observe a caregiver singing, they are both listening and watching. By using different senses, the child is utilizing a greater area of the brain, which is crucial for growth.

Music can be a vehicle for teaching language, fine motor movements, large body movements, problem solving, and social skills. Parents can create music and songs during day-to-day activities and don't even need to sing on key! Young children will begin to recognize familiar melodies before they can imitate sounds. They will imitate hand gestures as part of a song or as a way to continue the interaction with the caregiver. These play activities serve as building blocks for learning spoken language and basic social skills.

Music helps children with listening and responding, and it helps build memory. Children can enhance their eye-hand coordination and improve spatial skills by gesturing along to a song or by playing an instrument. Studies with school age children suggest that the younger children begin musical training, the larger the area of brain activity. Therefore, creating an interest in music during the formative years of a child's development is crucial.

The message to parents is simple–play with your children early and often, with music as the foundation. Sing songs, shake maracas, and listen to the sound of an instrument. Share your favorite music and know that it helps make children smarter!

Sources:

Lynch, M. P., Short, L. B., & Chua, R., Contributions of experience to the development of musical processing in infancy. Developmental Psychobiology.

Schellenberg, E. G., Nakata, T., Hunter, P. G., & Tamoto, S., Exposure to music and cognitive performance: Tests of children and adults. Psychology of Music.

Schmidt, L.A., Trainor, L.J., Santesso, D.L., Development of frontal EEG and ECG responses to affective musical stimuli during the first 12 months of post-natal life. Brain and Cognition.

Teachout, David, The Impact of Music Education on a Child's Growth and Development, Sounds of Learning Project, UNCG School of Music.