Music Through Early Childhood
Supporting Your Child s’ Love of Music by Liz Arrington
hile the world around us is changing, many things remain the same. Our children are learning and growing through this unique period of time, with the majority (if not all!) of their time spent at home with their primary caregivers. As a parent of two highly energetic boys, I am there in the trenches with you! Music is a wonderful tool for any parent to use at any time: to support learning, relieve stress, and connect with your little one. Knowing that music is one of the building blocks to learning, it helps to understand what behaviors to look for and enjoy as we play musically with our children.
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for toddler music, as this supports language development and learning. If you find yourself getting tired of singing the same song over and over (and over) try replacing words with nonsense noises, narration of your day, replace the words with animal noises or sounds from the world, to encourage creativity and humor.
Children of all ages express themselves through music, even babies! Infants coo, wiggle, and cry in response to (and on pitch with!) music. We instinctively use music to soothe fussy babies, sing lullabies to help them sleep, and use songs to play and communicate with them. If you are a parent and you’re insecure about how your voice sounds when singing to your baby, you have to know this, it sounds incredible. YOUR voice is the most beautiful sound in the world to them. Singing and dancing with your baby improves your bond, helps baby to develop neural pathways, and teaches them language skills. The best part about making music with your baby? You are in charge of the playlist!
By preschool, we can expect most children to be confident and enthusiastic music makers. They like songs that provide repetition and specific movements, nonsense words and general silliness. I think most of us remember the great “Baby Shark” craze of a few years ago, which basically had ALL the major components of a preschooler’s favorite jam. Improved coordination and balance supports more advanced rhythm development, and you may begin to see your preschooler incorporating music into their play. Your preschooler may be showing a greater aptitude for music at this stage, and they may become interested in more formal, structured, musical experiences. It is still very important during the preschool years to make room for a great deal of musical play and exploration. Play continues to be a major learning tool during the preschool years, and these little ones greatly benefit from self-directed, spontaneous, and play-based musical experiences.
Toddlers experience music, and most of their lives, through movement. They have fun jumping, running, clapping, and spinning as they explore different sounds and movements. At this stage music should be an active experience versus passive listening or observing. Repetition is the key
As children enter school age, they generally will have developed a basic competence for the fundamentals of music, the ability to carry a tune and keep a beat. Especially if they have been provided with a consistent exposure to music in those early years. This is typically when children
14 March | April 2022
