Why is music good for my child?


Because music is fun!
...and all children are born musical. The same natural abilities that enable under 5's to learn to speak and understand language also enable them to respond to music. Music is something magical that you can share with your child and a way of communicating even before they can talk.

Because music can help learning
Music is the perfect vehicle for learning, for instance repeating rhymes to your child can help develop their language.

Recent research by Youth Music* has shown that music making can help to develop communication, maths, listening, concentration, sharing and social skills in under 5's. This can increase your child's confidence and give them a great head start when they begin full-time education.

Musical activities for pre-school children often include lots of movement. This aids motor skills and physical co-ordination, which contributes to their general physical well-being.

Because music can be your best helper!
Feeling stressed out? Singing will calm you as well as your child and provide a distraction if they are crying. Sing you favourite songs from pop to opera and try nursery rhymes and lullabies.

So, why not give music a go?
Listening to music is beneficial but the real benefits come from actually making music with your child. The privacy of your own home is the ideal place to begin.

What can I do at home?
You can be your child's first music teacher and it doesn't take lots of time and money or any special training. Try building music into your everyday routines and use your imagination to think of new activities. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

 

Before you start

  • Young children's ears are very sensitive so make sure that there is not too much confusing background noise such as a TV or radio. Create a quiet space to sing to your child and let them explore their own voice.

 Singing

  • Your voice is very special to your child and by using singing during your everyday routines, your child will connect the tune to the activity before they understand the words. For instance, singing the same song each night can prepare your child for bedtime.
  • Try singing "What shall we with the dirty nappy" to the tune of "What shall we do with the drunken sailor" or "The water in the bath goes splash, splash, splash" to the tune of "The wheels on the bus go round and round".
  • Young children love repetition, so sing the same songs over and over again. Watch your child respond with movement and laughter!

Instruments

  • Making simple homemade instruments is a fun and cheap activity. The trick is to be imaginative - literally any household object can be used to make a sound.
  • Encourage your child to experiment with the following homemade instruments to hear the different sounds they make:

    i) Fill empty screw top jars with beans, rice etc to make shakers. Make sure the lid is tightly secured before use!

    ii) Empty cartons, pots and pans make great drums when hit with a wooden spoon.

    iii) Create a triangle by suspending a metal object such as a coat hanger with some string, and hitting it with a metal spoon.

 
What about music-making groups?
Music-making sessions are a great way for under 5's to explore music further, whilst developing social skills and confidence in group situations.

By joining a group, you can share experiences with other parents and get some useful tips and ideas from the musician. It is important though to keep up the music making at home - it shouldn't be seen as a replacement!

If your childcare provider doesn't offer music-making sessions, then contact your local council who will be able to provide you with details of what's going on in your area. Their details can be found in your local phone book or by visiting http://www.direct.gov.uk.

What to look for at a music-making session
You should feel comfortable with the musician and be offered the opportunity to take part and learn with your child. By being supported in developing your own musical skills, you can then continue to develop what you've learned in the sessions, at home with your child.

Ask questions about the way the session is set up. A music session should involve the children most of the time, and just be a performance by the musician.

 

* Turning Their Ears On, Youth Music, 2006

(Musical ideas taken from the Music Start pack, funded by Youth Music and developed by Healing Arts, Isle of Wight).

In Your Area

The In Your Area section is a UK-wide directory of services. For parents, this allows you to find local music-making projects for your under 5's. Find a project here.

Print and Paint

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Illustration of a saxaphone and a piano