Benefits Of Music In Early Childhood Education

The importance of positive experiences in the early years is abundantly clear.

By the time a baby is a year old, their brain has doubled in size and by the age of three, the brain has reached 80% of its adult size. Much of the foundational ‘wiring’ for a child’s cognitive, motor, speech, language, communication and emotional development is established in these early years and in fact, by the age of three, a child has the most brain connections they will ever have in their life because these will be ‘pruned’ in later development*.

Music has been shown to play a crucial role in the healthy development of a young child’s brain and it’s a key aspect of daily life at our Treasured Tots childcare centres. From gentle lullabies, nursery rhymes and catchy jingles from TV programmes to banging on a saucepan with a wooden spoon and parents’ rock ‘n roll favourites belting out on car journeys, music in all its forms plays an important role in young children’s early childhood development.

The role of music in early childhood education

You can probably already see and hear the enjoyment your little one gets from music. It’s a visible mood lifter, bringing laughter and energy to their world, but exposure to music also does a lot of really important unseen work deep within their brain structure.

Young children create neural connections when they listen to music as well as when they participate in musical experiences.

Music is one of the few activities which uses both the left and right hemispheres of the brain, so it’s an excellent way of stimulating neuroplasticity and communication between the two sides. Let’s take a closer look into just how music benefits early childhood development.

Eight benefits of music in early childhood education

Music boosts communication skills

Musical experiences are like physical exercise for young brains. From the moment they are born, babies start to develop neural pathways that are vital for listening and speaking, and by singing lullabies and nursery rhymes to them and exposing them to musical experiences, you help engage the different parts of the brain to fire up this synaptic growth. Language development is given a boost because music can strengthen young children’s ability to decode words and sounds, plus learning to keep rhythm can enhance their reading ability.

Music can increase a child’s sensory development

A musical experience can incorporate a wide variety of different activities which is why it’s so great for a child’s sensory development. Dancing, making different sounds, playing different instruments, clapping hands in time to the beat and synchronising movements with others are all important musical activities that encourage children to use multiple senses to discover their world. This article on why sensory play is crucial for a child’s development sheds more light on this important topic.

Music builds creativity

Banging a wooden spoon on an upturned pot may not seem particularly creative, but the fact is that creating different noises using different objects, babbling and sound play are all ways that babies and toddlers can stimulate their creative sides.

Music can improve literacy and numeracy

Hearing or singing the same song over and over again helps a child identify sound patterns and learn through repetition. They learn to anticipate the next sound and how to put these in sequence. This early exposure to mathematical concepts (counting, maintaining a beat, sequencing etc) and learning the words to songs are important precursors for building literacy, vocabulary, communication, comprehension and numeracy skills.

Music improves co-ordination and fine motor skills

Improved hand-eye co-ordination, ear-to-hand co-ordination and enhanced fine motor skills are key outcomes when a child learns to play a musical instrument. It helps them learn to control the small movements of their fingers and hands, keep in time with other musicians and maintain a beat. Dancing, keeping balance and learning to move in unison are also good ways of improving a child’s physical skills through musical experiences.

Music improves listening and memory skills

Whether a child is learning the words to a song, learning to play an instrument or getting instructions from a music teacher or therapist, the process requires them to listen carefully. As they listen for different rhythms, new words and lyrics and the pitch and speed of the various sounds, their listening and memory skills are enhanced.

Music helps a child develop social and emotional skills

A child’s social and emotional development is crucial and musical experiences provide ample opportunity for a child to engage and communicate with others. Whether they’re creating sounds, participating in a dance, singing together in a group, taking turns listening to another child, performing for a parent or teacher, every musical experience is an opportunity for a child to express themselves creatively. This can also help them feel a sense of pride and accomplishment which fuels their self-esteem and confidence.

Music improves focus and memory

Repetition reinforces memory and therefore musical experiences like learning a new song or instrument can help children with concentration and focus.

Incorporating music into early childhood education

Music addresses a number of areas that help a child form the vital brain connections that lay the foundation for their healthy growth and development of important skills.

At Treasured Tots, we understand the vital role that music plays in quality early childhood education. You’ll find that it is a big part of the daily activities in our childcare centres because we know how valuable it is from a cognitive, physical, social and emotional developmental perspective – plus the children and their families LOVE the joy and excitement that musical experiences bring!

If you’d like to see music come to life in one of our wonderful centres, you’re welcome to contact us or book a tour to ensure that our management team is available to show you around and answer any questions. Please get in touch with Treasured Tots to find out more about our childcare centres in Mandurah, Bibra Lake, Fremantle, Piara Waters, Hamersley, Bennett Springs and Bicton which provide high-quality childcare and kindergarten programmes in a ‘home-away-from-home’ environment for children between the ages of 0-5.