Music, Movement and Children

As parents, most of us bear witness to the amazing capacity of children to learn. They absorb skills and knowledge like sponges. Undoubtedly, some of us may even feel the daunting pressure in today's society to raise child geniuses or fall into the "guilt trap" that working parents find themselves in. Thus, moms and dads have joined the race to find the best schools to optimize the potentials of their gifted children, or to compensate for the lack of time spent with them.

Surprisingly, many tend to forget that we, as parents, are the first and the best teachers our children will ever have. No special degree or qualifications are required for this important role. And, that the home is the most important learning environment for children. Research has shown that the first three years of life are critical. Wiring the brain to develop vision, feelings, language, and movement can easily be done by parents alone, without having to resort to a structured, formal type of early education.

For example, reading to and reading with a child, have already been proven to have intellectual, emotional, and physical benefits. Music, as a universal language, has also been studied extensively as a key player in child development. Studies have surfaced regarding music and children – from the controversial and debatable Mozart effect (for spatial reasoning, musical and artistic abilities, and enhanced health) to recent suggestions of putting earphones playing classical music to the pregnant mother's womb. Even the high-pitched, rhythmic, speaking style (known as Parentese), helps babies develop language skills. The bottom line is that music, whatever the type, is advantageous to the unborn, newborn, and growing child.

Every child is musical. And when children experience music in their early years, it lasts throughout their lifetime. Music is a powerful stimulant for a child's total development, thus nurturing their cognitive, emotional, social, language, and physical aspects of growth. Characterized as the language of emotion, children experience joy, fun, and learning through music in their lives. All the senses are stimulated; and the child is involved at many levels.

Music can also be therapeutic. Children manage pain and stressful situations through the aid of music. It is highly motivating, yet can also have a calming and relaxing effect. It can encourage socialization, self-expression, and communication. Listening to music develops self-discipline, critical and creative thinking skills that are essential for a functional adult life later on.

Movement and dancing are also innate in children. Studies again show that motor skill development moves from gross to increasingly fine motor ability. Parents are then encouraged to give babies as much freedom to explore as safety permits. Older children can work off excess energy by listening and responding to rhythms. Movement, in effect, does wonders in improving coordination and balance.

Simple fun activities should do the trick (listening to different instruments and sounds, exploring how music makes them feel, examining themes and tempo). Quality learning and maximum participation occur when children are permitted to experience the joy of play. There should be no pressure to perform. Just encourage your child (not teach) to explore, express, and discover.

Let the music "out" and enhance their spirit and creativity. This parent-child interaction will certainly boost self-esteem. Shared experiences create a unique bond which will also last a lifetime, and hopefully, will be passed on to their children as well.