Music and its Effect on Children's Development

By: Laurie Honza
Director of Product Development, VTech Electronics North America

From lullabies and CD sing-alongs to toys filled with silly songs that get babies giggling and clapping their hands, music can benefit early childhood development.

Music entertains a child and also helps mold developmental elements as they grow, including their mental and social development. According to the book The Mozart Effect For Children by author Don Campbell, studies show that playing and bringing music into a child's life early on can help build the neural pathways in the brain that allow memory, language, and spatial development to happen.

Campbell notes that not only can benefits of music be neurological, but music can foster a great deal of physical and self-expression benefits as well. Children can improve their vocal and speech development through singing; and fine- and gross-motor skills can be improved through dancing along to tunes and playing with instruments. Music can also evoke feelings and memories, which can help children express themselves whether they're singing happily to their favorite show or dancing to the rhythm of a drum beat.

Incorporating music into a child's everyday activities can be as easy as listening to CDs and playing with musical toys. Below are some additional enjoyable and unique ideas parents could use to introduce music into their child's day:

• Exposing babies to different types of music can be fun for children and parents. Check local outdoor summer concerts or festivals. These experiences expose a child to different kinds of music and instruments and parents don't have to feel guilty if the baby cries because it's outside the confines of a concert hall or indoor amphitheater.
• Babies respond to their parent's voices, even if mom isn't the best singer or only knows a limited number of songs; sing loud and clear and the child will enjoy the vibrations, attention, and bonding time.
• Turn off the TV and turn on the radio. Use music as a background sound or even dancing. This doesn't mean parents have to listen to hours of classical music or "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," they can choose contemporary, lively songs as well. It's all about the parent, child interaction—get up and dance, act silly, and have fun.
• Some children have a hard time calming down before bed. Parents can try using calm, light music to relax the child and encourage an evening routine. Once the music is introduced, the child will know it's time for bed, and after lightly singing a song or two together, sleep time won't be a struggle.