Youth Music - BongoClub.org.uk

For centuries and centuries, singing to babies has been used to soothe, to be playful, for learning and for communication. As the world becomes busier, technology becomes cleverer and cleverer, is it still important, asks Sarah Carling, Director of Music for Starters, to sing to our babies?

Is it still important to sing to our babies? Yes. Of course it is! And in fact, I am convinced it becomes more and more important every day. As an Advisory Teacher for Early Years Music, I travel around the country on a regular basis. Wherever I go, I have requests from Nurseries, Children's Centres and Preschools for songs and games to develop speech and language skills. The consensus is that whilst we tell children lots of things, we don't give them enough opportunities to have their own say!

At my own weekly baby music sessions I place lots and lots of importance on babies joining in. This might be with simple animal noises (in Old McDonald for example), it might be by blowing or poking out tongues or it might be simply anticipating an exciting ending. As babies grow into toddlers, we expand to include transactional singing (little question and answer songs). It is these games and simple songs that provide a framework for language development and an understanding of the art of conversation.

So what can parents and early years practitioners do to support all of this? Here are some practical ideas:

• Face to face is best! You'll have read about the latest "buggy research" in the papers. This is old news to us! Babies need to see you in order to engage with you! In a group music session, I find that they are often interested in other parents and carers and in the other babies - so this might not be the best place to test it out. When you are at home it is another story! Be aware of your baby's focusing skills. When they are tiny you need to be quite close to them for their eyes to focus on you. Sing quite high if you want your baby to hear your voice. Sing quite low if you are having a cuddle and your baby will feel the vibrations as you hold them and sing.
  
  
• Give your baby space in the music to "join in" - noises can then be copied by you and a conversation has begun!
  
  
• Be playful - make sure you are enjoying it too. Learning through play is not only important, but crucial to early childhood development. You are the important person for your baby (even if you can't sing well, your voice is still the most important one for them). Engage in your songs and games and have a good giggle at the silly bits.
  
  
• Oooos and Aaaaas are very important. Play with sounds and words - improvise songs and don't be shy (no one else needs to listen - just your baby).
  
  
• Join a good quality baby music group. Ask the teacher what they do - just a sing-a-long session is not going to help your child to learn.
  
  
• Ask your mums and dads and grandparents about songs they knew when they were tiny. My own father is known as "uncle boom boom" to all his nephew's and nieces - no surprise then that he loved playing and singing with them when they were tiny.
  
  
• We are in danger of losing all the old and good songs. Make it your mission to pass at least one song on to the next generation! Sing everywhere. If you're shy, then sing to your baby at their bath-time, with lullabies at bedtime, at play-time. If you are bold (and maybe a little mad!) then sing wherever and whenever - at the supermarket is fine too!

Remember that it is never too early to sing with and to your baby and I'll be listening out for you all next time I go shopping!

For more information on Music for Starters, and the work of Sarah Carling, visit: http://www.musicforstarters.com/. Sarah also runs weekly 'Musical Bumps' baby groups: http://www.musicalbumps.com.

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.

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