Sharing the Joy of Music
Music has a power that goes beyond words. It has the power to move us to the depth of our being with emotions like sorrow or joy. Music can also bring back memories, motivate us, or change our mood. We all take pleasure in music. The pleasure of sharing music builds connections between parent and child as sounds and rhythms surround the child in a world of sensations and feelings. Music also offers a joyful and rewarding learning experience and nurtures a child’s imagination and creativity.
As parents, our own love of music can encourage our children to explore and experience it in many forms. This joy of music must be nurtured to grow. We must create a musical environment at home. This can be done by providing varying musical experiences, such as listening to all types of music and instruments. Hearing different rhythms and tones gives young children a listening vocabulary in the same way that talking to them boosts their speaking vocabulary.
Singing with and to children is another good way to create musical bonding. Babies especially like lullabies. The rocking that goes along with it instills a sense of rhythm. Singing familiar songs or nursery rhymes with children can be fun for everyone. Making up songs about everyday events and people foster creativity in parents and children. Don’t worry about your singing voice! The quality is less important than the regular and joyful presence of music in a child’s life.
The value of music in our lives is immeasurable. Recent studies have shown that music is also important for improving listening skills and abstract thinking crucial for science and math. Researchers are also studying the connection between early exposure to music and enhanced musical abilities later on in life.
Children need to sing and move to develop musical skills. All children are natural music-makers. Encourage their unique development. Lead them with a cheerful heart and joyful spirit!
Jill Phillips
ECFE Parent Educator