While STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math) are vital in this day and age, the arts provide their own specific benefits to a child’s growth. Activities such as songwriting, singing, learning an instrument, and stage performance can all play a significant role in your child’s development because of the benefits of music for children.
From accelerating brain development to improving hand-to-eye coordination to helping them boost their confidence, here are the five remarkable benefits of music on childhood development and learning.
1. Music Accelerates Brain Development
Exposing children to music throughout their early years helps them in accelerating their brain development and memory capacities. Research shows that children who were involved in music growing up performed better in academics than those who were not. This is because music lessons animate the same area of the brain that governs reading, math, and emotional development, which is why the best nursery in Abu Dhabi opts to make music a central part of their curriculum.
2. Music Improves Other Skills
While music hones a child’s auditory sense more than any other subject, it also helps to improve other essential skills. For example, when children learn how to play an instrument, they are also discovering hand-to-eye coordination, ear-to-hand coordination, and additional fine motor skills.
In addition, music requires pattern recognition, which is a fundamental math skill. What is more, music sparks the same portion of the brain that engages with spatial skills — a requisite for the comprehension of higher-level math equations.
Research has also shown that studying music involves the same areas of the brain used in language learning. Whether your child is learning to play an instrument, singing, or studying melodies, the practice is bolstering the network of circuits essential to sound processing and comprehension. Generally, young children who are proficient in verbal communication have an edge in educational and social settings — an advantage that is amplified over time.
3. Music Enhances Social Skills
When your children start to learn how to play an instrument or sing, they are also learning social skills. These skills range from understanding how to work in a group to appreciating achievement. Considering music is intended to be performed, strengthening a child’s readiness to be in front of an audience is an excellent way to prepare them for real-world situations.
Through music learning, children can also recognise that they have a skill that (hopefully) others enjoy. Often, this realisation provides them with enough self-belief to boost their self-confidence. As they progress in their practice, children can grow more and more assured of their capabilities.
As children get older and continue with learning music, they have the opportunity to join a small ensemble, a school orchestra, or a band with their friends. Being a part of these groups fosters teamwork skills as well as an enjoyment of collaboration with others toward a shared goal.
4. Music Teaches Discipline
All instruments require immense focus, as well as physical and mental recall. By continuing to develop their skills, children come to realise that mastery is a result of regular training, as repetition strengthens retention. At some point, every individual needs to learn the value of hard work, and music is the ideal way for your child to encounter this on their own. Regular music practice is a reliable method through which to educate your child that hard work brings results. Plus, it is a lot of fun!
5. Music Encourages Creativity
For many people, music is the primary lens through which they communicate. By offering your children the gift of music, you are providing them with a way to express themselves, no matter what their age. When they hear music, young children swing, bounce, or move their hands and legs in response. Three- to four-year-olds often make up their own songs, while older children utilise music to share feelings. This stimulates creativity.
Whether it is composing melodies or rehearsing concertos, children who are involved in music lessons are encouraged to listen to their inner creative souls. Creativity is a trait that is widely admired later in life and an essential attribute of successful people.
These five reasons should be enough motivation to ensure your children are involved in music-related exercises. When looking for a nursery or preschool for your children, get in touch with us at Step By Step Nursery and ask about inquire about the presence of music in our curriculum.
Do you think that music is essential for a child’s development? How do you like to include music in your child’s daily life? Let us know your thoughts, comments, and any relevant insights in the comments below!
