Music plays a huge role in our culture and our lives from theatre, to television, movies and important ceremonies. But did you know that it can also play a big part in your child’s development?
Let’s get musical!
Did you know that music can play a big part in your child’s development? Explore these play-based activities to get musical with your little one!
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Lullabies, sing-a-longs, and nursery rhymes help build an intimate connection with your child, while also enhancing their fine and large motor skills and impacting their overall happiness. But don’t stop there, music and movement have so many benefits for your little one:
- Expressing emotions
- Awareness of movement and body positions
- Creativity and imagination
- Learning new words and concepts
- Develop large motor skills
- Improve balance, coordination and rhythm through dance and movement activities
- Improve small motor skills‐learning finger plays and playing musical instruments
Here are some play-based activity ideas you can use to get musical with your toddler or preschooler:
- Dance party: Who doesn’t love a chance to dance it out to some fun music? Try listening to some music that gets your little one moving to the beat. They’ll not only be burning off some energy but also be working on their rhythm.
- Sing along: Let your kid belt it! Children like singing and are eager to let it out without the self-consciousness that comes with adulthood. Try using songs that repeat words or melodies. You can’t go wrong with the classics like “Mary had a little lamb,” “The ABCs,” or “Old McDonald had a farm.”
- Kitchen band: Let your child experience the thrill of playing a sold-out arena, aka your kitchen, with their DIY instruments. From upturned pots and pans, wooden spoons, containers filled with rice, or empty coffee cans the options are only limited by your imagination. By allowing your child to make a little ruckus with your kitchen things they’re learning concepts like loud and soft, as well as cause and effect when different materials hit wood, metal or plastic. So, have those ear plugs ready because this learning activity can go to eleven.
So until we can all get back outside and to our normal routines, we hope you’ll enjoy these activities and learning with your child through music and movement. Whether it’s hitting pots and pans with a spoon or singing silly songs, your child is learning through play and strengthening their bond with you.
