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Singing

 

Singing to your children is one of the greatest gifts you could give them. Young infants will vocalise all kinds of wonderfully melodic babbling, gurgling and cooing sounds to emotionally connect and communicate with their caregivers, well before they learn to speak. It is so important for a child’s vocal development for adults to echo or mirror back their musical vocalisations, usually characterised by high pitched, repetitive, gliding sounds, even if you don’t think you can sing! This will encourage a child’s vocal range to develop to its full potential (which is extremely broad when they are young) and prepare them for later development in music and speech.

 

Singing gentle lullabies can soothe your child and provide safety, comfort and reassurance, especially when accompanied by rocking, touching, rubbing, smiling, warmth, and cuddling. Toddlers and preschoolers also love playsongs, which are fun and engaging to them, such as nursery rhymes which involve tickling, or finger plays or actions, and familiar theme songs from TV/movies. Making up songs on the spot about what they’re doing is even better!

 

Dancing and movement

 

Children love physical activity and will naturally move to the rhythm of music. You can encourage your child’s movement using action songs (e.g. I’m A Little Teacup, Everybody’s jumping/ hopping etc just like me!) and partnered songs (e.g. Row, Row, Row Your Boat) which encourage physical contact. Gentle movements, such as holding a child and rocking, patting or bouncing, can provide comfort and engender feelings of warmth, affection and caring (quiet, peaceful music such as lullabies are great). Stronger movements, such as walking or marching around the room, can enhance feelings of pride and self-confidence.

 

If you use recorded music, don’t have “background” music on all the time as young children will end up blocking this out.

 

Musical “play”

 

Play is a child’s way of learning and understanding the world around them, and considered essential for their physical, social, emotional and intellectual development. As an adult, you can engage in “musical play” with your little one by simply responding to sounds your child initiates, such as lyrical babbling from a newborn, made up songs from a toddler, banging on the kitchen table with a wooden spoon or making a whole drum set out of your pots and pans. Join in! Sing along with them! You are making music together! Your enthusiastic praise and participation will encourage your child and their music-making.

 

Playing Instruments

 

 

Expose children to percussion instruments such as shakers or bells as even pre-verbal children can communicate with them and express themselves creatively and successfully. Musical games that involve sharing instruments with older children can encourage the development of important social skills such as turn taking, cooperating, waiting, listening and leading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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