Benefits of Music for Young Children

 

 
Ever since my son, Alexander, was born, I could tell music would play a large role in his life. He loved to listen to music, even as a tiny baby. I would sing to him, quite possibly horribly off-key, but he loved it just the same! As he grew a little bit older (not much older, about 6-9 months old) I saw Alexander take a great liking to the piano. We had a little child's keyboard that he totally loved! Set that keyboard in front of him and he would make "music" for a long time, totally content and proud of himself for the sounds he was creating. It was then, that I named him my "little piano man". It wasn't only piano that he loved though, anything music related was tops in his little world! As a baby, he always played with a baby drum and a baby guitar! I love looking back on those photos of my precious boy playing musical instruments!

 
 
 
 
Over the years, I have noticed what professionals say about the importance and benefits that music has for children. In fact, although Classical Music is not always on my playlist, while I was pregnant I listened to it, because I heard studies say that it can increase your baby's IQ and always give them a musical ear...well, I am surely a believer in that theory now for sure! I have also read that music can help children with motor development and coordination. It's that rhythmic pattern of musical beats that can help a child keep pace and balance. Many studies have also shown music to improve spatial coordination, creativity, math/science skills, and even ability to learn a foreign language. Did you also know that music can strengthen social skills too? Listening to music teachers a key skill for interacting with others...listening. It can also increase their emotional awareness. We have probably all had the experience of a song and musical piece that has moved us. Or how about even the use of music in a movie, helping to build that climax of some intense event. Or even the spooky music played in a scary movie, that just somehow without us even knowing it, adds to that tension and suspense we feel? Do you ever play relaxing music when you're stressed after a long day? It can have a calming effect on us too! Music can do a lot!

Here are some statics to back up how beneficial music is!

Students taking courses in music performance and music appreciation scored higher in the SAT than students with no arts participation. Music performance students scored 53 points higher on the verbal and 39 points higher on the math. Music appreciation students scored 61 points higher on the verbal and 42 points higher on the math. (Source: 1999 College-Bound Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test Takers, The College Entrance Examination Board, Princeton, New Jersey)

Research made between music and intelligence concluded that music training is far greater than computer instruction in improving children’s abstract reasoning skills.(Source: Shaw, Rauscher, Levine, Wright, Dennis and Newcomb, “Music training causes long-term enhancement of preschool children’s spatial-temporal reasoning,” Neurological Research, vol. 19, February 1997 )

A two-year Swiss study involving 1,200 children in 50 schools showed that students involved in the music program were better at languages, learned to read more easily, showed an improved social climate, showed more enjoyment in school, and had a lower level of stress than non-music students.
-Weber, E.W., Spychiger, M. & Patry, J.L. (1993)



So, all that we know about the importance of music, parents should make it a part of their children's lives early on. As you can see, it has most certainly been a huge part of my son's life. He still loves music to this day! In fact, we just recently got to try out some new instruments! Ones that are slightly less common in the toy-instrument world. My son was SO EXCITED to get these! I told him a surprise was coming, and that it was something to do with music, but I let the exact details be a surprise! He received the "Click n' Play Metallic Silver Saxophone and Trumpet Set"!

 
 
 
Now even though these are toys, this company has done a great job making them realistic to the actual instruments. The saxophone has 8 keys and the Trumpet has 4 keys, which produces real saxophone and trumpet sounds. Each key actually is a different note. The keys are color coded for easy learning, and they come with a few songs to play right on the box. I also like the fact that these were made in Italy. Call me silly, but it can sometimes be scary to give your child a toy produced in other regions where the paint or other materials used have been shown to cause harm to children.
 The materials used here passed all tests for lead and other unsafe chemicals. (Thank you!) Seeing as my son is 6, soon to be 7, I was worried the he might be a tad bit too old to enjoy this set. The age in their description says three and up. Well, I can say that my son is not too old for them! I truly loves playing them and keeps going back to play again and again!
 
I love encouraging his musical creativity! I was happy to find a new instrument to discover, aside from his beloved piano, guitar and drums! I can't help but to think that with all his exposure to music, he will achieve excellence in many areas, both academically and socially! Give your child a wonderful musical education so they can acquire a special lifelong skill!






 
This is a sponsored post and I did receive some sort of compensation for my time. However, the thoughts and feelings expressed here are truly my own and are genuine.
 
 


 

Comments

  1. My son Jackson would LOVE the saxophone and trumpet toy! All three of my kids really enjoy music. I can't say I listen to classical (ever) but I've always got music at the ready and honestly, when everyone is getting crabby- I turn some music on and everyone instantly calms down. It's so great!

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    1. That is cool music can turn around your kids' crabby mood and calm them down. Music is a powerful thing ;)

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  2. My son is just about to turn 2, but has shown a great interest in music for a long time. We definitely plan to get his hands on instruments as early as possible. Great post!

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    1. That is awesome, Caitlin! I hope he continues to have a love of music :)

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  3. I've been listening to music as I go to bed ever since I was a little kid. I loved listening to Classical music as I went to sleep and I've heard that it really helps a child's brain!!

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    1. Yes, that's what I heard too, and was why I listened to classical wile I was pregnant. I should start listening to it most often, just to relax or drift off to sleep as you do, I might enjoy that!

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  4. Those are really cool. My oldest would love them. I totally agree that music is so important.

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  5. Oh, my kids would go crazy over these! Music is definitely important, it's awesome to see how excited your son is over his instruments. :)

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    1. He gets excited over anything musical, lol. I think most kids would have a good time with these :)

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  6. We're music lovers too- except my son hates my singing! lol

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    1. haha, aww, that's funny! Thanks for stopping by and commenting :)

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  7. My son love play with the children's keyboard and drum plus loves to listen for music from TV and movies esp the end credits!

    Ursula

    www.blueridgebeautyblogger.com

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    1. That's great, Ursula. I hope his love of music continues!

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  8. We love music around here! It's nice to see its benefits confirmed. We're just learning piano and I loved the idea of putting the letters on the notes. She'd learn easily that way!! Thanks.

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    1. That's great, Traci...glad your child(ren) are interested in the piano :)

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  9. I love all the pictures! We are a very musical family, but my 2 year old is obsessed. He has Down syndrome, and it just seems like he's more in tune with music than my other kids were!

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    1. Yes, sometimes music is extra special to those with a disability. My son (the one featured here) is actually visually impaired...and I think that may have a lot to do with why he was so interested in music, even as a baby. So, I can totally relate with what you're saying about that. Thank you so much for sharing! We should keep in touch! :)

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  10. Music is so important for helping kids learn and develop. My youngest especially loves music, and if he's having trouble with something in school we just have to figure out how to put it in a song.

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    1. That is so cool what you do with a hard school situation, putting it into a song! Wow, I might have to borrow that idea sometime in the future! Thanks for sharing that!

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  11. Those pictures of him with the instruments as a baby are adorable! We always have music on in the house, and each child has a acoustic guitar as well as a few smaller instruments. My youngest who is 4 begged us for a drum set. We found a major drum set that is kids sized and he loves it. Everyone thought we were crazy and would regret it with all of the noise. You do not have kids for a quiet house, it will not happen. Let kids be kids, and bring out their creativity. It is so important!

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    1. Thank you! Yeah, actually that children's drum set you saw in that one photo we no longer have. My son wanted to upgrade to a "real adult drum set"...and I promised him that if I ever came across one at a yard sale or something, I would buy it for him. Well, last summer I found an amazing full adult drum set for only $50! No way I could pass that up! So, he got his wish! Like you, I don't care about the "noise"...he makes some amazing beats on his drum set and I love to hear and watch him play! I'm glad other parents out there let their kids be kids and enjoy childhood! That's awesome! :)

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  12. My son definitely loves music too! We were just playing the drums today with kitchen implements.

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    1. That's awesome! My son did that too when he was younger. Kids just love that!

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  13. Music is so important. we started our daughter in music classes as a baby. She can now read and play music on a recorder and keyboard at six years old. It makes me proud.

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    1. That is wonderful, Deanna! I am sure that makes you very proud! Music is a wonderful talent to have and pursue! I hope she keeps it up!

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  14. Music is definitely important for children! I love all the different pics you had of all the different instruments! My girls play the piano but my oldest wants to start playing an instrument in the school band. It's definitely has great benefits!

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    1. Aww, thanks! My son actually took piano lessons for about a year, starting when he turned 5. We took a little break from the professional lessons for right now, but he stills plays on his own all the time. We have a real piano at our home, plus a couple big keyboards. Haha, I just realized as I am writing this, that we nearly have a piano in every room of our house! (dinning room, living room, his bedroom) That's crazy, but I love it! Best wishes to your girls and their musical futures!

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  15. Those are cute. My girl is more of a dancer than musician <3

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  16. Music is so important! Learning to read music keeps minds active - I played the piano for 18 years and started when I was 5! Loved it!

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  17. Music has always been an important part of my life. My daughter has been asking for piano lessons for a while now, thank you for the motivation (er, kick in the butt!) to get moving on that.

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  18. We love dancing to music and always always always seem to have music on!

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  19. Music has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember, and probably before that too. I was trained as a classical pianist and was involved in various bands and choirs all through school. When I was pregnant, my son would react very strongly to music and would dance and kick up a storm when certain genres were on. To this day, and he is 7 now, he still getsexcited when he hears those kinds of songs, haha. I also knew that I wanted music to be part of his life and enrolled him in baby music class at 3 months. He did those till he aged out at 3 1/2, and is now in his second year of playing the drums. It's incredible to see what music does for their young brains, and it made me pretty happy to read those stats that you quoted about it improving scores. It keeps both brain and body active and is so good for manual dexterity too!

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  20. This is so sweet!!! Music definitely is important for little kids, it always was for me too!!
    xo Adriana - Daily Dose of Design

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  21. I love this. Music is so important. My parents were huge about that

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