Music is something that is closely related to the change in our state of mind, perhaps even in our soul, since prehistoric man. It can make us nostalgic and sometimes sad, but the best thing is that it often makes us happy. Singing and musical instruments have been used since the time of Hippocrates as a means of healing the sick for the Indians. In today’s world, it has only a small place in medicine, but it plays a role in all of our lives.
Today researchers, scientists, and even doctors want to know more about the effects of music and how it affects us as individuals. Of course, researchers have explored different paths, and some have made incredible discoveries. For example, babies have been shown to remember the music they heard in the womb. A study in the United Kingdom showed that children remember the lullaby Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.
Music for young children and nursery education
Numerous studies have been carried out, the results of which show that the exposure of newborns and infants to music and singing helps to build neural bridges. These neural bridges are necessary throughout life because they process thoughts as well as information and events we encounter. It is therefore not surprising that music plays an increasingly important role in kindergarten and contributes to the promotion of early learning.
It has also been shown that music stimulates the alpha waves in the brain, creating a sense of calm and well-being among listeners. Exposure to music in kindergartens is expected to promote the development of children’s listening skills, which affects their language and reading skills, as well as improving their spatial perception. Spatial imagination is closely linked to fine motor skills and mathematical skills.
Brain damage
While talking and singing with children is important for their development, it is music that affects all subsystems of the brain. In this way, it can both increase motivation and provoke an emotional response. It is supposed to help create connections between people, peers, and friends that have a positive influence on our overall wellbeing, not only at an early age but throughout life.
Dr. Patricia Vardin, who heads the Early Childhood Education Department at Manhattanville College in New York, said that making music with others gives children a great sense of belonging to a group. Children who find it difficult to participate in activities with others because of their embarrassment, limited English proficiency, or special needs can participate in musical activities.
Music as a form of therapy
All over the world music is used as a form of therapy and musicians are often invited to hospitals to play for children. Doctors and nurses believe that it has a positive effect on a child’s mood and that it is useful for people suffering from emotional and physical trauma, but also for military personnel after participating in a fight.
In modern medicine, music is used as a clinical intervention for many ailments. It has been shown that singing, playing, and listening to music is beneficial for some medical needs:
- child development
- Help for children with mood disorders
- Persons with other neurological disorders
- Helping children cope with grief and depression.
Use of music outside the clinical treatment
Fortunately, few children need clinical treatment at such a young age, but parents can include music in the game with their children. Some studies show that it is good for the development of cognitive, emotional, and physical responses in children, especially children up to the age of three. If, as a parent, you’re wondering what you can do to bring music into your child’s life, here are some ideas:
- You can provide a number of simple tools such as bubbles, maracas, egg beaters, or even spoons.
- Encourage your child to move his or her body and dance while listening to music.
- Record songs with specific activities, e.g. B. Cleaning and housekeeping
- Use a familiar nursery rhyme, for example, to increase vocabulary and improve memory. B. 5 Little ducks or head, shoulders, knees, and toes.
- When you read or tell a story, you can record singing voices to help your child understand that it is bedtime or night.
Music and social skills
As our children grow up, it is important that they become more sociable and learn to interact with other children and other adults. Music is a great way to improve your child’s social skills, and Jolly Gordon’s article suggests some interesting activities that may help, such as B. :
- Encourage your child to share tools and take turns playing an instrument or copying the other person’s movements or sounds, and encourage him or her to laugh and play.
- It is better to have two children, asking questions and answering yes or no, but singing the answer or using an instrument.
- In a kindergarten you can ask a small group of children, four or five, to sit in a circle and let each child play an instrument. The children in turn must be the leader and determine the rhythm, pace, and even volume of the group.
Although your child will benefit greatly from the use of music during his formative years, he may need the focused attention of an adult for a longer period of time. Attention undoubtedly contributes to the child’s development. It is therefore very important that parents and caregivers keep the child company and do not leave the child alone while it is playing. Interaction is crucial at this young age, and positive interaction leads to higher self-esteem and more effective learning. The benefits of this approach will last a lifetime, so investing in music is worth it.
