The positive influence of music
Before your little one learns to speak, they can already hear music. This ability is the basis for your child to understand and learn languages. Your child has their first human relationship with you as a parent. They get to know your mood through the pitch and rhythm of your voice. The underlying melody harmonizes with your child's musical hearing. Hence, music can also help build your little one's interpersonal relationships. The hormones dopamine and oxytocin released in the brain when listening to music can promote positive character traits.
If you also incorporate different facial expressions and gestures when making music, your child will learn the meaning of the words even faster and understand which feelings should be conveyed by the song. Another benefit of music is that it improves your child's ability to concentrate and can stimulate their imagination which could have a positive effect on later school performance.
Scientists have also found that music is particularly good at calming crying babies. It can work better than words from mum or dad, because its gentle rhythm improves the mood and promotes the reduction of stress in your little one. When you sing them songs, you convey to them the feeling that you are happy. This immediately conveys to your child’s mood. In the form of a music box or a musical trinket, you can use the calming effect of the music early on to help your sweetheart fall asleep. Experiencing music together creates a connection, expands your child's vocabulary and encourages their creativity. It doesn't matter whether music is played in nursery, school or at home.
Instruments that are good for your child
You can playfully support your child in gaining access to music. You can do this with toys that emit sounds at the push of a button or with drums or rattles that they can use themselves. With these toys, your child can create their own sequences and spend hours with them, even if this can be exhausting for your ears. Keep in mind, however, that this will improve their motor skills and strengthen the connection between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This allows messages to be processed more quickly in the brain.
These positive effects apply both to songs that you sing to your child, but also to recorded children's songs that you dance to and have fun together. Do you have any favourite songs or melodies that your little one loves the sound of? We'd love to hear them too!
