Encouraging our children to get involved in the arts is one of the best ways to support their creative, social and emotional development. It also helps set them up for academic success. Incorporating music into your child’s daily routines and learning is an excellent way to add sensory, interactive fun as they grow these skill sets.
By listening to, learning about, and creating their own music kids can gain self-confidence while establishing their own brand of self-expression. Music is proven to help young children build and reinforce skills like sharing, critical thinking, and self-regulation and enhances their sense of belonging to a community. It also broadens their horizons, introducing them to cultures and languages outside their own. Older children can benefit from listening to music during study sessions, helping them focus on a task, retain information, and improving their mood. For many young people, playing musical instruments and singing can serve as the start to a lifelong passion, and in some cases evolve into a career as a composer, singer, conductor, or even a rock star!
Use the resources below to explore music from diverse cultures and learn about the value of music to children’s intellectual and emotional development. Then, try out digital and hands-on activities to drum up a love for music in your household or classroom.