Music imprints itself on the brain deeper than any other human experience…
Dr. Oliver Sacks
Music is a natural medium for each newborn human and it is an essential part of every child’s development. The development of musical ability is invaluable for the improvement of creativity and abstract and logical thinking. Music has a positive impact on the development of imagination and nonverbal communication.
According to a study from Northwestern University sitting in a music class and letting the sound of music wash over kids is not enough. To fully reap the cognitive benefits of playing music, children have to be actively engaged in the music and participate in the class.
Playing music benefits a child in ways that no other activity can.
Music:
inspires creativity – whether a child is making up the lyrics to a song he or she will tap into their inner creative spirit;
enhances fine motor skills by practicing manual precision – according to research at University of Texas-Austin, a significant improvement in fine motor skills was found only for the children who received a piano lessons;
improves memory by requiring the memorization of long musical phrases – it boosts a working memory – the ability to temporarily store and use information that helps to reason, learn or complete a complex task;
increases the ability to concentrate effectively;
increases the ability to process large quantities of information at once – playing an instrument requires concentrate on things like pitch, tempo, rhythm, note duration and quality of sound at once;
improves literacy – according to Susan Hallam, a professor of education at University College London, children who take music lessons can improve their listening skills and, in turn, improve the way they process language;
boosts overall IQ – Jessica Grahn, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Western Ontario, noticed three points IQ growth in children who took piano les sons;
builds confidence – with music, children can express themselves, improve their skills and practice performing in front of others.
Eagerness to playing is a very powerful and natural force which drives children to experiencing new things and gaining knowledge. Music is a universal language that can be used effectively in this process. Only an engagement in the music creation process may lead a person to the full realization of his or her potential and reap the benefits of musical stimulation.
When looking for a musical toy, a high quality of the instrument should be always crucial. It is the first criterion. The second is obvious – it needs to entertain! Musicon (www.musiconclub.com) designed by Kamil Laszuk, is a great example of an educational instrument driven by fun. It encourages children to play in groups and it boosts kids’ creativity. Every child has a great potential and with the right tools we can unleash it more efficiently.
While language is sometimes incomprehensible to a young child, and it divides people into groups, music is universal. It does not need language, but language needs music.
Helen Neale
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, website editor and a qualified counsellor with experience of working with both children and adults.She is a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapists, with her own private practise. She also freelances with her local Mind organisation.Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, use those grey cells at the same time, and supplement her counselling income.KiddyCharts has reach of over 680k across socials and the site. The site works with big family brands to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10. She is a specialist counsellor for neurodivergent individuals and brings this expertise to her resources and the site. She is also an ADHDer herself.KiddyCharts gives 51%+ profits to charities, focused on supporting mental health and a community in TanzaniaHelen has also worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!