Music gives exercise to the parts of the brain that processes information. It enhances the way every day things are processed in the mind, which you will soon see in the other benefits below. According to children’s music specialist, Meredith LeVande, creator of MonkeyMonkeyMusic, “music simply stimulates the parts of the brain that are related to reading, math and emotional development.” There’s nothing wrong with that right?
If you had to choose some things from your childhood memory (I mean way back in your preschool days) you remember up to now, chances are, some of it relates to a song you learned or a concept you learned through a song. Somehow the sounds and rhythms make it easier to absorb and retain information.
I cannot tell you the countless things my son remembers a lot better because it is attached to a song.
Music helps children to make connections to people, ways of life, to things that they have learned and even a sense of self.
This is why I love the show, Daniel Tiger, so much. The repertoire of songs on the show connect everyday things to music. I have taken many songs from that show and incorporated them into daily routines like using the potty.
I also love songs like “The Popcorn Song” taught by TLB Music in Manhattan. This song helped my son make connections between sequence of events and the process of making popcorn. I have taken that song home with us and used in our process of actually making popcorn to deepen the understanding. This is just one of the many ways TLB has contributed to his experience in using music to build connections.
Music elicits a verbal response from toddlers and all children alike. Think about songs like “Where is Thumbkin.” Call and response songs like this charges the brain to give a response to a question and practices the art of every human interaction.
At TLB Music, teachers use various songs to help children call to memory what they have learned and to elicit a response to questions around what they have learned. Its not just singing and dancing here.
Its just so much more fun to talk through and in the midst of song.
For children who are not as outgoing as others, you will hear him/her singing words to him/herself faster than you would see them proactively engaging in conversation. The beauty is that language is happening somewhere.
Expose your children to enough music and I guarantee you that they will begin to create their own rhythms and beats and if he/she is extra fancy, their own lyrics. I can count on one hand how many versions of the alphabet song Aaron has stamped in his brain. Sometimes he hits a high note and sometimes he hits the low note. Sometimes the song has a new melody.
Human beings were born to create and exposing your children to plenty of music is an awesome way to sharpen that ability.
Wife to an amazing husband, mother to an exploring toddler and an MPA graduate aspiring to impact the world with encouragement in mothering and in social entrepreneurship.
7 Comments
justabxmom
April 27, 2016 at 5:22 pmI agree so much. Music is magic. We don’t even always realize how much it stays with us. It is also a good way to teach. (I’ve had to sing not only about brushing teeth but using the potty too). The things we do for our little ones! lol
Normel Smith
April 28, 2016 at 5:07 pmhaha. so true. #momlife
Shay Bee
May 1, 2016 at 3:38 pmMusic is so important. I cannot go a day without it in my world and those around me know Shay is going to introduce you to something new. All genres welcome!
Normel Smith
May 3, 2016 at 9:03 amI love that! Yes! All genres welcome indeed!
SavvyMomNYC - Ker (@SavvyMomNYC)
May 19, 2016 at 8:41 pmMusic always brings such memories. I can hear a song and immediately be brought back to a memory.
Normel Smith
May 26, 2016 at 5:04 pmIt sure does ;-). i can definitely relate.
Pingback:
October 25, 2016 at 2:54 pm