31Aug
Just about all of us understand that music possesses certain powers. There are not many people on the planet who don’t enjoy music of some description. While we may have diverse tastes when it comes to music styles, everyone can attest to music having an affect on them emotionally and in other ways.
But what about music and the developing brain of a young child? What effect does it have and is it a positive one?
This article is going to be taking a closer look at music for infants’ brain development, so you have a better understanding of what role music can play.
How Does Music Impact the Brain?
One of the very first and most important things to note about music is something that’s extremely unique. With most activities, we’ll either heavily use the left side of the brain or the right side. Not so when it comes to listening to (or even creating) music. You see, to fully process music, both sides of the brain need to be utilised almost equally. What this means, especially for young children, is a broadening of the mind’s capacity. More neurons are firing when listening to music and this, in turn, leads to positive brain development and an increased capacity to learn.
Music can also help to reduce blood pressure by relieving stress levels. Even very young children can benefit greatly from reduced levels of stress. A byproduct of this is your child will also sleep better as a result.
Music is great for improving mental alertness, can have a positive impact on a person’s mood and also helps to promote an improved ability to memorise things. It’s also been reported that music can reduce the possibility of having seizures and can help make people better communicators. The very fact is that listening to music has so many positives, it can also boost the immune system.
Aside from the benefits that listening to music provides, it’s also one of the most enjoyable experiences life can give you.
Does Music Help Baby Brain Development?
So, what about the affects of music on the brain development of babies?
One simple example of how the right music can be positive, even for babies, is when you sing them a soothing lullaby. This type of song helps to calm a baby down and even put them to sleep. The song slows down the baby’s heart rate. This example alone demonstrates that babies respond to music right from birth and even when they are still in the womb.
But can playing music to your baby have a positive affect on the way their brain develops?
As mentioned earlier, listening to music makes use of the entire brain, so even from a very early age, a baby’s mind and cognitive abilities will be expanded if they are regularly exposed to soothing and uplifting music. Hearing the same song over and over creates familiarity, which leads to a baby experiencing a greater sense of security. In a way, this is a form of music therapy.
As a child grows older, the more exposure they have to music, the better it will be for the child’s development. Not only is listening to music regularly a positive activity, so too is learning to play a musical instrument or learning how to sing. Whether listening to music or singing or playing an instrument, both sides of the brain are used and the capacity to learn, absorb, be creative and constantly improve are increased exponentially.
Music Therapy At Endeavour Early Education Centres
At Endeavour Early Education Centres, we understand the true power and positivity of music. That’s why we include music therapy as an integral part of our curriculum. Professional music therapy is actually a part of the healthcare profession and at our centres, it’s facilitated by industry experts for optimum results.
Music therapy forms just one part of a varied range of activities that children enrolled in our centres participate in. We also offer one of the most comprehensive and effective school readiness programs in the country, to ensure your child is as prepared as they can be by the time they start school.
To learn more about early education and what Endeavour can offer you, just give us a call and chat with our friendly staff.
