Music = Little Smarties
I just read a short article by Leslie Falconer in The Reporter, the newsletter of the New York State Association for the Education of Young Children, about the importance of music in our children's lives. Most of the findings by two recent academic studies, one at the University of California and one at the University of Wisconsin, presented findings that were previously known: music is essential to brain growth and development in young children, and that early immersion into music results in higher scores on intelligence tests.
What surprised researchers this time was that improvement in math and science skills was directly linked to exposure to music at a very young age. Hearing and learning lyrics and melodies to new songs and singing them with others helps hardwire their growing brains, and develops their complex thinking and problem-solving skills needed later in life.
Sing songs with your kids every day. Make up words to familiar tunes. Play "copy this beat" with some rhythm sticks. Grow a genius.
Comments
No doubt. Singing songs to and with children, especially toddlers is one of the best ways to develop early language skills.
Indeed,kids need to sing to develop their brains,and most of all to have fun.
As songwriter and manager of a preschool
I know that children that sing,learn better.
Singing is also a great way teach kids basic skills the fun way
Singing to babies (and kids) will help develop the child’s motor skills quicker. Playing music and singing to your baby before they are born is wonderful for not just the baby, but for Mommie’s too. I recommend “Mozart Before You Were Born” and “Mommy’s Lullabies” for the Mommy to be.
Amen to all these comments! Now, to convince the whole world to sing to their babies…sounds like an old Coke commercial!