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!

Link to Product; http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016TS9O8A?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

 

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.