As early childhood educators in Parramatta, we’ve long recognised the profound impact of music on child development. The benefits of music extend far beyond simply learning to carry a tune or play an instrument. In fact, music plays a role in shaping the cognitive, social, and emotional growth of young children.
In this post, we’ll explore why music is important for child development and how it can help children thrive in their formative years.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Music in Preschool
Cognitive and Brain Development
Music supports cognitive development. Research has shown that exposure to music can accelerate brain development, particularly in the areas responsible for language acquisition and reading skills.
When children engage with music, whether through singing, playing instruments, or simply listening, they’re exercising multiple areas of their brain simultaneously.
For example, learning to play a musical instrument requires children to use both hemispheres of their brain, enhancing their ability to process information and solve problems. This cognitive workout can have lasting effects, improving memory, attention span, and even mathematical abilities.
Language Acquisition and Literacy
Music and language are intimately connected in the brain. The rhythms, patterns, and tones in music closely mirror those found in spoken language. As such, music helps children boost language development and literacy skills.
Singing songs, for instance, helps children learn new vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and understand sentence structure.
The repetitive nature of many children’s songs aids in memorisation and recall, language acquisition skills, and reading development.
Social and Emotional Development
Music is a powerful tool for fostering social and emotional growth in young children. Group musical activities, such as singing together encourage cooperation, turn-taking, and shared emotional experiences. These activities develop important social skills and emotional intelligence.
Music can assist children to express and regulate their emotions. A soothing lullaby can calm an anxious child, while an upbeat song can lift spirits and encourage movement. By linking music to different emotional states, children learn to identify and manage their feelings more effectively.
Physical Development and Motor Skills
Music and movement go hand in hand, especially in toddler development. At this stage of development, children are rapidly improving their motor skills and body awareness while also expanding their language abilities and emotional expression. Music provides an ideal medium to support and enhance all these areas of growth.
When toddlers engage with music, they instinctively respond with physical movement. This could be as simple as swaying, clapping, or bouncing to the beat, or as complex as attempting to dance or mimic specific movements associated with song lyrics.
Dancing, clapping, and playing instruments all contribute to the development of both fine and gross motor skills. These activities improve coordination, balance, and spatial awareness.
As children grow, learning to play more complex instruments like the piano or guitar can further refine their motor control and hand-eye coordination.
Sensory Development
Music supports auditory development by exposing children to various sounds, pitches, and tones. It helps them differentiate between musical elements and fosters auditory discrimination skills.
Playing instruments and engaging in finger plays enhances tactile sensory development. Children experience different textures and vibrations, connecting their sense of touch with auditory input. This multisensory approach enriches their learning experience.
Music paired with visual elements stimulates visual sensory development. Colourful instruments, dance movements, and visual representations of rhythm assist children in connecting what they hear with what they see, further enhancing their sensory integration skills.
By incorporating music, educators create a rich sensory environment that supports holistic child development, laying a strong foundation for future learning and appreciation of music.
Implementing Music Programs at Kiddie Garden
Creating a Rich Musical Environment
As educators, we can support children’s musical experiences in childhood by incorporating music into daily routines in each of our preschool rooms, singing together, or providing basic instruments for free play.
It’s important to expose children to different types of music styles and genres. While children’s songs are wonderful, don’t be afraid to introduce classical music, world music, or even pop and rock when listening to music at home. Each style offers unique benefits and can broaden children’s musical horizons.
Integrating Music Across Our Preschool Curriculum
Music shouldn’t be confined to a specific “music time” in the daily schedule. Instead, we use music to support learning across all areas of our preschool curriculum. For example:
- Use counting songs to reinforce mathematical concepts
- Create songs about the weather or seasons to support science learning
- Incorporate movement songs into physical education activities
- Use music to signal transitions between activities
By integrating recorded music throughout the day, we reinforce its importance and provide opportunities for children to engage with and benefit from musical experiences.
Encouraging Active Participation
While listening to music is beneficial, active participation in making music is even more powerful. At Kiddie Garden, we encourage children to sing along, move to the music, and experiment with instruments. Remember, the goal isn’t to create perfect musicians but to foster a love of music and reap its developmental benefits.
Our rooms have a music corner where children can freely explore instruments and make their own music. This supports musical development and encourages creativity and self-expression.
The Long-Term Impact of Early Musical Experiences
The benefits of music extend well beyond the preschool years. Studies have shown that children who are exposed to rich musical experiences in their early years and through early childhood education are more likely to:
- Develop a lifelong love of music
- Perform better academically, especially in areas like maths and reading
- Have improved social skills and emotional intelligence
- Demonstrate greater creativity and problem-solving abilities
Learning to play an instrument or participating in music lessons can boost self-esteem and provide a healthy outlet for self-expression throughout life.
Music is Important for Early Childhood Development
As early childhood educators in Australia, we have a unique opportunity to enrich the lives of children through music. There are many benefits of music in early childhood education. By incorporating it into our daily practices, we can support children’s growth across all spectrums of early development.
From enhancing cognitive abilities and supporting language development to fostering social skills and emotional intelligence, music education is a fundamental part of our early childhood curriculum.
Whether it’s through quiet background music during rest time, enthusiastic sing-alongs, or exploration of instruments to improve fine motor skills, every musical moment is an opportunity for growth and learning. By doing so, we’re not just helping children develop – we’re instilling in them a love for music that can last a lifetime.
