How to Raise a Musical Child

Music is good for children. Our grannies got it right. If you have ever sang to calm a crying baby, or to get them to settle while you gave them a bath, you agree too. Raise a musical child, because music is amazing.

How music benefits your child

Music boosts the language skills of children. This is so even if they are not able to sing along right away. Learning a musical instrument teaches patience, discipline and self-confidence. Performing music together teaches teamwork and leadership. As a child dances to music, he is improving on his motor skills, his self-expression and memory. His coordination is improving too. Music is joyful, so apart from it boosting a child’s brain, you can introduce music to your child just for the sake of it being music. Later in life, your child may use music as a coping mechanism, thus improving his resilience.

How can you introduce your child to music?

You can play some quiet and soothing music to your baby while he is in the womb. He can hear you. After he is born, calm him with music to put him to sleep. Once he begins to coo, you can make a coo song. Make a song for the activities in your daily routine like bathing, brushing of teeth and changing diapers. If you are multilingual, sing songs in different languages to introduce him to the various sounds.

You can make simple musical instruments at home to fill your house with music.  Fill an empty bottle with beans or other large seeds (and keep the bottle tightly closed at all times-choking hazard!) and use pots, or empty tins for drums. That is if you don’t mind the noise. A child can start learning a musical instrument as early as 3 or 4 years. Some authors suggest that the piano may be a good start. A child who is interested can stay on for longer or move on to other instruments. An engaging, child-friendly teacher is necessary to sustain your child’s interest.

Music is food for your child’s soul, and yours too. So when you find your child making music, be sure to join in the fun.