Music isn’t just entertainment. In your child’s growing years, it can help him learn a cluster of developmental skills:
Listening Skills
Listening is an essential part of learning. Not only that, but it also enhances your child’s ability to respond socially, which develops his awareness and compassion. Listening also leads to action, which teaches him to become more responsible for his behavior and decisions.
Fine Motor Skills
Your child's fine motor skills are enhanced through the various gestures and expressions he makes when moving to music or playing an instrument. Dancing, in fact, is proven to have positive results in the mental growth and confidence of children. Its combination with music like in the Orff Method1and Dalcroze Methodcan even help students learn both musical and non-musical concepts better.
Sense of Accomplishment and Self-Esteem
Dancing or performing music in front of others may seem daunting at first, but when your little musician accomplishes it, he gets a boost of confidence that helps him shed his inhibitions. Parents who have seen their children on stage during any school exhibition would know this. Their children learn to appreciate their accomplishments and know that they can make their parents proud with some hard work and confidence, developing their self-esteem in the long run.
Power to Focus
Music also helps your child focus. When being taught a new song or dance, for instance, the learning process it requires encourages him to concentrate on the different words, notes, beats, and steps.
These are just some of the many benefits music can have on your child in the long run. But even now in his daily lessons, a good song can make even the most boring topic lively and memorable. So don’t be shy to use music to hone your child’s skills and encourage learning.
1 The Orff Method is a way of teaching children about music that engages their mind and body through a mixture of singing, dancing, acting and the use of percussion instruments (i.e. xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels). Lessons are presented with an element of "play" helping the children learn at their own level of understanding.
2 The Dalcroze method, also known as Dalcroze Eurhythmics, is another approach used by educators to teach musical concepts. This method, which connects music, movement, mind, and body, was developed by Emile Jaques-Dalcroze.
