Though we may often see music as a form of entertainment, it is always worth reminding ourselves that it is so much more. That’s why we thought we’d take the time to discuss the relationship between music and brain development in children. Whether your child listens to soothing lullabies at bedtime or enjoys dancing or playing rhythmic clapping games, every time they enjoy music, brain development is massively enhanced. The benefits of music for toddlers include memory improvement, cognitive growth, and social and emotional development. Music has a profound impact on a child’s life and can significantly improve their overall well-being.
When creating a childcare setting, it is essential to make music and rhythm a key focus. At Clovel, we understand this fundamental aspect of brain development in children and ensure that music is always a key part of our curriculum. Supporting children involves the perfect balance of play-based learning, team activities, emotional support, and musical experiences.
Of course, many will have a basic understanding of how it feels to engage with music. From listening to the radio on the way to work to going to watch our favourite bands live, music plays a significant part in most of our lives. For children, engaging with music massively supports and activates numerous areas of the brain simultaneously. Every time a child practices keeping a beat or singing a song, the neural pathways of their brain are stimulated, and these are linked to memory, problem-solving, and attention span. In professional childcare, music and child growth are highly recognised, so it is regularly used to strengthen their brain development.
At Clovel Childcare, we deliver a performing arts program for preschoolers aimed at improving language processing, enhancing listening skills, and giving them the sharp focus they need to thrive within an educational setting. We firmly believe in the benefits of music for toddlers, incorporating it into daily learning.
Music is an incredible tool for emotional growth. Beyond enhancing a child’s cognitive capabilities, music provides an immense emotional outlet. Though singing and playing songs may just seem like a bit of fun, the stimulation it causes for a young child’s brain is truly phenomenal. Similar to adults, when a child engages in music regularly, it serves as a safe space for self-regulation and emotional exploration. Furthermore, early childhood music programs foster social interaction, allowing young learners to share experiences, develop an understanding of empathy, cooperate, and build strong connections with others. If you want your child to thrive, we couldn’t recommend music activities for toddlers more.
If you are interested in incorporating music into your child’s life more often, there are several things you can try. Here are a few super fun ways to promote music education for early years learners:
Singing familiar songs with our children regularly is a brilliant way to experience the emotional and cognitive benefits of music. Doing this will enhance their language skills, memory, and sequencing.
Not every family is musical, but that doesn’t matter. Creating instruments with repurposed items from around the home is fun and will help them develop rhythm and motor skills and encourage creative exploration. This can be done by creating shakers with rice and plastic bottles or banging pots with a wooden spoon – literally anything can be used to promote brain development in children.
There are several games that incorporate rhythm and movement. Clapping a beat, stomping feet, and dancing helps them connect physical movement with auditory learning, improving their coordination and body awareness.
Music is the perfect tool for helping young children build their language skills. When songs they listen to regularly include rhyming lyrics, it familiarises them with phonics and helps them understand the meaning of particular sounds. When toddlers frequently listen to music and sing along, they are far more likely to excel in the development of their vocabulary. This is why we include music activities for toddlers at every chance we get.
Music is a brilliant way to foster creative thinking in numerous aspects of a child’s life. An early childhood music program can open the doors to their imagination. The act of discovering and engaging with different sounds is a form of exploration, helping children develop a deeper understanding and build a connection with music. Creative thinking and decision-making skills are significantly improved when we begin to understand the importance of music and child growth. Activities like musical storytelling help young learners think outside of the box and develop the necessary skills to express themselves and experiment with various creative outlets.
Exposure to regular music at a young age can lead to incredible life-long advantages. The benefits of music for toddlers aren’t short-lived but something that will help them grow and learn for years to come. Participating in music programs, like the one we have at Clovel Childcare, is a guaranteed way to enhance your child’s development and help them transition into formal education and beyond. Children who engage with music are happier, more confident, and more empathetic and have much stronger social bonds with those around them. The benefits of music in early childhood education are genuinely astonishing, and we think everyone should be doing what they can to incorporate music into their child’s life.
During the early years of learning, we strive to build an environment that allows our children to engage with multiple senses to promote cognitive, social, and emotional development. This is why music is a critical component of early education. Music enhances language acquisition, confidence, creativity, social skills, motor coordination, and more.
There are several music activities for toddlers we can integrate into our daily routine. Try playing calming music before bedtime, create a morning playlist, sing along with your child, play rhythm games, dance, and use certain songs for activities like cleaning up.
At Clovel Childcare, we don’t simply offer a performing arts program; we integrate music into everything we do. By creating the perfect blend of play-based learning and music activities, children in our care are able to excel.
Choosing your child’s childcare and early learning centre is one of the biggest decisions you will ever have to make for your child. If you have more questions for us or would like to book a tour of one of our centres, please fill out our form and we’ll be in touch!
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