Music activities for kids
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Music has so many benefits for your child - from the soothing sounds you play her as a baby through to the upbeat songs when she’s older that encourage her to get up and dance.
Encouraging a love of music is great for your child’s development. Here’s how to include music in her playtime, along with details of how to find a music class near you.
Why music is so good for children
Pretty much from the moment they are born (and even before) , children respond to music. Soothing lullabies can help babies go to sleep while nursery rhymes can help your child learn to talk.
Music can also boost your child’s brain power. A study by Seattle’s University of Washington in 2016 found taking babies along to musical play sessions improved their ability to process speech sounds as well as musical rhythms.
Here are 6 ways music is good for your child.
1 Music improves vocabulary
Singing songs to your child helps her understand how language is put together. And the more you sing or play nursery rhymes to her, the more she will pick up words - even if she doesn’t know what they mean.
Learning in this way will also help your child develop her listening skills - especially as she starts to join in with nursery rhyme movements and actions.
2 Music can teach your child about emotions
By playing different tempo songs, you can start to teach your child about emotions. She will start to understand that slow songs can be sad while upbeat music can make you feel uplifted and happy.
3 Being musical can help her learn to sing …
A good appreciation of the different tones of music can help your child learn to sing.
Sing-a-longs in the car on long journeys can be a great way to pass the time, while an early years music group can help your tot harness her singing skills.
4 … and learn rhythm
Those toe tapping tunes your child listens to at an early age will help her appreciate rhythm, beats and movement.
A study by San Francisco State University also found that music can help children with maths.
Researchers used rhythm to teach fractions by getting children to connect the value of musical notes, such as half notes and eighth notes, to their equivalent fraction size.
5 Music helps with body awareness
Different types of music can teach children about movement and dance and is a wonderful way to increase body awareness.
Good body awareness can also boost confidence in other areas of physical activity such as ball sports and athletics.
6 Music can help with confidence
Feel-good music can help boost your child’s self esteem and confidence according to a study at the University of Ottawa.
Time to put the radio on!
Musical games for children
Feeling inspired to be more musical? Why not play these music-based games with your child.
Create your own band
This activity is a wonderful way to encourage kids to be creative. Ask each child what role they would like to play (bass guitar, drums, singer) and set up a ‘stage’ ready for your gig.
You don't need proper instruments -the children can just pretend to play. You can even create a band name and make a poster for your live show.
Make your own instruments
Search the house for potential music making material or make your own instruments.
Glass jars with lentils or pulses make great maracas while toilet rolls, tin foil and cotton wool can be used for microphones.
Dance-a-thon
You can't beat that amazing sense of freedom that comes with letting go and dancing to music.
You could even set challenges like dancing for five minutes on the spot or who can come up with the funkiest dance move - guaranteed to add to the fun.
Musical stories
Telling tales through music adds a new dimension to storytelling.
The likes of Five Little Ducks and Incey Wincey Spider are just as popular with your child now as they were in your childhood. And the fun lyrics and simple rhythms make them easy to remember.
Write your own songs
Another good way to enjoy musical stories is to make some new songs of your own.
You can use the rhythm and beats of well known songs and add your own lyrics or sit down and come up with an entirely new beat together.
Your child can decide what the song will be about and you can create the fun lyrics together.
Find a music class near you
Whether you've got a baby who wants to boogie, a toddler with a taste for drumming or a ballet-mad preschooler, you'll find all sorts of ways to get your little one moving in our baby and preschool classes listings.
Or check out our after school classes listings for music, dance and singing lessons.
How many clubs and classes does your child go to? Why not chat to other local mums in our Coffeehouse forum, below.
