5 Benefits Of Music Development For Kids 18 Months To 4 Years Old

5 Benefits Of Music Development For Kids 18 Months To 4 Years Old

So when should you start exposing your little one to music? The answer is sooner than you think. In fact, even before they are born, research shows that playing music for babies in the womb can have tremendous benefits on their development. But of course, once they are born, the opportunities to enhance their music development are endless. Let’s look at some ways Music development can benefit kids 18 months to 4 years old.

Music helps children learn new words and concepts

Can you recall the da-da-das or the ABCs your mum or caretaker sang to you when you were a baby? You probably learned those rhymes long before attending school. And most probably, you could sing or recite them without any issue, even if you had zero ideas what they meant. The simple truth is that music helps children to learn new words and concepts more quickly than if they were to listen to a raw speech. Furthermore, A study carried out by Washington University showed that 9-month-old babies who read rhyming stories with accompanying music were better able to remember those words than those who just read the stories dry.

Music strengthens memory and attention skills

In addition to learning new words more easily, music also helps children strengthen their memory and attention skills. Can you recall your favorite nursery rhyme or children’s song from when you were younger? Chances are, you can still sing or recite them today without any issues. This is because music helps to embed information in our memory more effectively than spoken words alone. A recent study performed by the Toronto University showed that 6-year-olds who participated in weekly singing lessons had better memory, attention, and reading comprehension skills. Such kids were also found to have better “executive functions” in the brain, including their ability to pay attention, reason, and plan.

Music helps children identify and understand different emotions

Have you ever wondered why you feel calmer after listening to certain music or feel more energetic after listening to others? This phenomenon is because music can affect our emotions. And this is true for children & babies as well. Research shows that children exposed to music tend to be better at understanding and expressing their emotions than those who are not. Again one of the researches published at the National Library of Medicine showed that 3-year-olds who took part in weekly music lessons were better at identifying and understanding different emotions than those who did not.

Music enhances creativity and imagination

Of course, one of the most significant benefits of music development for kids is enhancing their creativity and imagination. Remember when you were a child and would make up stories or songs about your favorite cartoon characters? Or when you would pretend to be a musician or singer on stage? Whichever the case,  music allows children to use their imagination and creativity in ways that other activities do not. You can help your child’s imagination grow by encouraging them to sing and play instruments.

Music boosts confidence and self-esteem

Last & important, music also helps to boost children’s confidence and self-esteem. View it this way: by learning a musical instrument or singing, children get to perform in front of others. This practice boosts their confidence and makes them feel good about themselves. They could even get applause from the audience. They will feel they have achieved something that they may not have thought possible before. These factors contribute to healthy self-esteem, which is essential for children’s overall development.

Bottomline

Music development benefits for kids 18 months to 4 years old are vast and varied. From enhancing their memory and attention skills to strengthening their emotions, there is no doubt that music plays an imperative role in a child’s development. So if you’re looking for a way to give your child a head start in life, consider enrolling them in music lessons or exposing them to music daily. It’s sure to make a world of difference in their overall development.