Music is all around us! In fact, babies begin taking in sounds and rhythms around the same time they do with language itself. Toddlers love to move or sway when they hear a song and old kids will often sing or make up songs as they play. As parents, we may not even notice how often we use music to engage our children! The benefits of music for kids are almost second nature to us.
Singing and humming to calm them down or show affection becomes second nature to even the most non-musical among us. Before babies say their first words, they’ll start to express themselves through sounds and movement. So it only makes sense that this would be an effective way for them to learn as well. When it comes to childhood development, there are many benefits of music for growing kids.
What Are The Educational Benefits Of Music for Kids?
Using music in early education is fun for kids, but that’s not the only benefit! A Discover the Benefits of Music for Kids study carried out by the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute suggests that experiences with music in a child’s first few years can actually speed up brain development. Specifically, listening to music was found to be helpful for boosting reading and language skills. What’s more, incorporating music in early childhood gives kids a great foundation as they enter the social world.
Beyond academic advantages, the benefits of music include:
- Social-emotional development
- Memory skills
- Motor skills
So, when the time comes to step out onto the playground, those young musical minds will be far better equipped to learn new games and socialize with friends!
️The Power of Music for Learning A Language
In the human brain, the temporal lobe is our language-learning center — the very same area that processes music when we hear it.
This means that for both first- and second-language learners, early exposure to music can make things a little easier. For example, infants learn to recognize the musical aspects of a language before they can even process-specific words. So having a good ear for music is sure to help them learn a language! But of course, listening is just one part of language learning.
Another important element is reading and writing. And when it comes to these skills, music is more useful than we even realize!
Listening to music helps us recognize the individual sounds that make up words and then associate them with written symbols. This ability is even more enhanced when we listen to the different notes, pitches, and rhythms in music. So, listening to songs with your kids in the early years is a wonderful way to get their cognitive gears turning!
Songs with lyrics are an easy way to get them to repeat words and sounds in an exciting and motivating way. As they listen, learn, and sing along, kids will learn new vocabulary and familiarize themselves with the rhythm of the language without even realizing they’re learning.
Boost Early Year Language Learning With Lingokids’ Chants!
With a wide selection of catchy Lingokids songs, your kid will want to listen, sing, and dance over and over. And little by little, they’ll start to recognize words and lyrics, which will help them develop the building blocks of their vocabulary. Tune into our songs and chants for kids and enjoy the musical fun—available on the Lingokids app, YouTube, and Spotify.
And don’t forget to jam out while you’re listening! Like all of us, toddlers and children love to dance and move to the music.
Interested in learning more about Lingokids? Download the app and check out all of our content on our YouTube channels. Let us know what Lingokids songs your kid likes listening to by tagging us on social media!