Singing helps bubs really grow up, says UniSA's Susan Hill
- From: The Advertiser
- December 29, 2012
- TELL US: Why do you sing to your baby?
SINGING to babies helps them rise up the charts of childhood development, says UniSA early childhood education Associate Professor Susan Hill.
"Babies are born with a natural ability to appreciate music," she said.
"Early exposure can help 'wire' the brain for future learning about creativity, patterns and sequence, language and literacy."
She said nursery rhymes, songs and chants helped babies to relax and be receptive to learning new things.
"Later singing and dancing to nursery rhymes not only increases vocabulary, but also helps our memory develop," Dr Hill said.
"Singing songs and nursery rhymes may be just as important as talking and reading to your child."
Adelaide singer/songwriter Fiona Munro created the Poppy and Patch it's fun to sing CD to fill a gap in the availability of age-appropriate baby music.
The delightful simplicity of these original "first songs for babies" makes it easy for parents and grandparents to learn the words and sing any time, unaccompanied.
"Singing is a great way to bond with your baby and stimulates their interest in language," Ms Munro said.
"Babies love the sound of their mum and dad singing to them, no matter how well they can hold a tune."
Mel Ryan, 30, of Aldgate has played the CD many times for her first baby Audrey, 20 months.
"I think music and singing is really good for young kids," she said.
"Lots of people use TV, they just sit them in front of the TV. I prefer to sit and sing with her." She said Audrey liked the Poppy and Patch songs better than some of the other CDs that are "a bit longer and more involved", especially when she was little.
"Even now we listen to The Wiggles but lots of the words to the songs are words she wouldn't understand," Ms Ryan said.
"Fiona's CD is simple and basic, it's about things she can relate to and we can talk about them afterwards.
"Now we've got another one on the way, with the little baby she'll be able to sing along."
Ms Ryan has recommended the CD on to friends, to help new parents learn the short, simple songs long after they have forgotten all the old nursery rhymes.
Poppy and Patch - it's fun to sing is available at Dillons Norwood Bookshop and Dymocks at Glenelg for $15.Originally published as Singing helps bubs really grow up