Whether it’s a CD, the TV or Daddy’s loud singing in the shower, chances are when music greets your cutie’s ears she likes to bop along, clap her hands or even test out her own vocal chords. As well as being awfully adorable, each time she does this your little groover is illustrating just how fundamental music is in children’s lives and play.
“Humans are innately musical beings,” notes Amanda Niland, from the Institute of Early Childhood at Macquarie University. “Children are naturally attracted to music and respond to it joyfully, even as babies.”
This innate draw to songs and dancing means good things for the whole family. Twirling around the living room with abandon, copying dance moves or simply warbling out nursery rhymes are all hooting good times for kids – simple, cheap entertainment to keep them happy (and mercifully occupied, if Mum’s got a lot of other stuff on her plate!). From lullabies to instructional ditties, such as songs about brushing teeth and putting toys away, music can also play a helpful and comforting role in daily routines. There are plenty of other benefits for your child, too…
Lyrical learning“My mother always said that learning music is as important as learning to read or write,” blue-skivvy-clad member of The Wiggles Anthony Field says. Anthony’s mum was on to something – and it’s not just learning to sing and dance that can be beneficial, but learning through singing and dancing too.
From stimulating brain growth to improving cognitive performance and enhancing social and emotional development, music, song and dance are said to be able to do plenty, and studies are adding to the benefits with increasing frequency. Late last year, for example, Canadian scientists at York University linked music-based learning to improved attention, accuracy, reaction time and problem solving in preschoolers.
And when Anthony says he believes music to be “a gift that kids will use their whole lives”, he’s not wrong. Research suggests that engagement with music during childhood, particularly through formal classes, can have lasting benefits, including when it comes to reading and maths skills during the school years and even mental health all the way into adulthood.
Check out some of the other areas music and dance can help your little one in:* Speech development
Simple songs and rhymes are great for building language skills. “Because songs are sung more slowly than our natural speaking tempo, accentuate the natural rhythms of speech and contain repetition, they provide an ideal vehicle for practising language,” Amanda says. Any old songs will do, but ones that describe actions that can be performed (think Hokey Pokey and Bend and Stretch) are handy for reinforcing the meaning of certain words, while songs that focus on teaching concepts such as colours (I Can
Sing a Rainbow), sounds (Old MacDonald) and letters (alphabet songs) can be particularly educational.
* Memory “Children can easily remember the words to their favourite songs and love to be able to sing along,” says Anthony, pointing out how music time can help hone those concentration and recall skills. Songs that have actions add an extra element to remember, while ones that offer repetition and listing (such as the There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly) are also good for building on this brain power.
* Social skills “Songs and rhymes help children to learn about interaction patterns such as waiting, listening, taking turns and responding,” says Amanda. Listening skills are particularly important, she adds. “In our digital age, where we are surrounded by sound a lot of the time, guiding children towards more focused listening with music provides them with an important life skill.”
Song and dance can also do wonders for self-esteem and confidence, not to mention creativity – particularly if your munchkin is keen on coming up with her own lyrics and choreography! They offer other unique learning opportunities, too. For example, you might experience music and dance from other cultures with your tot, kick-starting her learning about the world, while other musical stylings can help teach practical and healthy skills such as eating right and washing your hands well (think Wiggles songs Fruit Salad and Wash Your Hands).
Moving tunesIt’s not just brainy benefits that music and dance offer either; there are plenty of physical benefits when it comes moving and grooving as well.
“Dancing is such a wonderful form of expression,” says Anthony. Not only is it a skill that can help build self-esteem, but it’s one that promotes a healthy body. “It’s good for bone density and strength for starters,” he explains.
Dancing about also offers a whole-body workout, which your huffing and puffing after doing the Hokey Pokey with your littlie may no doubt attest! So a little time in the living room jumping and jiving, or time spent at classes such as Kindermusik and GymbaROO, is a great way to help your child get her recommended three hours of physical activity every day. “Dancing can also provide an enjoyable way for children to develop motor skills such as balance, strength and coordination,” Amanda notes. It’s good for other components of fitness such as flexibility, agility and stamina, too.
Help your littlie get the most out of her boogie session by encouraging her to incorporate lots of different movements such as bending, twisting, hopping, jumping, marching and all-around wiggling. You can even bring out props such as ribbons, scarves and hoops to help inspire extra-enthusiastic twirling and whirling around.
But it doesn’t have to be all prancing and leaping for your tot’s jam session to prove useful. Songs with simple hand actions are a great way to build her fine motor skills and control of her body, so don’t forget to include some Incy Wincy Spider and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in with the more-involved Dr Knickerbocker and The Chicken Dance!
Bring out the beatWondering how to foster your littlie’s love of music and dance? Amanda says that mucking around with movement and melody at home, playgroup, daycare or preschool is the best foundation kids can have when it comes to music. “It allows children to be playful and develop their skills their own way and at their own pace. There’s no right or wrong, no competition and no pressure.”
Other top tips are to ensure your child is always an active participant when music’s involved, whether it be by clapping, singing along or even playing simple instruments (see the box on the opposite page for ideas), and to incorporate music into everyday activities. You might point out bird songs when you’re at the park, for example, play sound-based games and have little songs and rhymes for daily routines. “The lullabies parents sing at bed time, those improvised songs at bath time… these are invaluable musical experiences,” Amanda says. “Music is a wonderful tool for turning routines into enjoyable moments and lasting memories.”
Perhaps most importantly, get involved! Sing along with your sweetie and wiggle along beside her – these are excellent bonding opportunities and a great way to help foster enthusiasm for music and dance.If you’re looking to nurture your child’s musical intuition even further, you can also look into music classes for toddlers and young children. Amanda advises looking for a program where the teachers have early childhood training as well as previous music experience.
At the end of the day though, whether she’s enrolled in Kindermusik, taking early instrument lessons or simply belting out her favourite tunes while she’s in the bathtub, as long as your child is having a blast, that’s all that really matters!
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