Music is some powerful stuff. It increases brainpower, teaches discipline, and makes us feel good.
With all the benefits that music has to offer, it’s no wonder that parents want to introduce our kids to music as early as possible.
So, how can we foster a love for music and encourage it to grow from such a young age?
How to Introduce Music to Young Children
1. Bring in the Instruments
Youngsters learn best by manipulating objects around them.
By introducing instruments, your child will learn how to create various sounds and rhythms while enhancing their fine motor skills.
Triangles, maracas, and bells are great simple instruments to start with.
You could also search for some scaled-down versions of pianos, tambourines, and xylophones for your baby or toddler.
You really don’t need a lot of money to get your little ones started with instruments.
You could look into borrowing some from a local school, or you could even encourage imagination and creativity by using everyday items from around your house.
Get out the pots and pans to make a drum set or grab an empty tissue box and some rubber bands and let your little one strum away.
2. Incorporate Movement
Break out the dance moves!
Dancing turns up the level of fun for everyone, especially children.
So, clap your hands, snap your fingers, stomp your feet, and march around the room.
Just be silly and have fun with it.
And remember, your child isn’t going to care what you look like, so just do you!
It will teach them to embrace who they are, encourage creativity, and increase their overall interest in music.
3. Don’t Micromanage
Children learn best through play and exploration, so try not to hover over them.
There is no right or wrong way when it comes to discovering and creating music, so go with the flow.
Hand them an instrument and let them explore.
Then play it yourself, demonstrating simple rhythms, showing them that it’s okay to experiment and improvise.
4. Be Patient
It’s probably going to take a while for your child to learn how to play an instrument.
So bear with them while they get there.
It’s probably not going to sound the best, but keep on encouraging them and let them know what a great job they’re doing.
Positive reinforcement motivates kids to keep learning – if they feel they’re not good enough, they might be unwilling to keep trying.
Your child will also probably have a favorite song that they will want to hear over, and over, and OVER again.
Just try to remember that repetition is good, and aids in their learning.
5. Have Realistic Expectations
As parents, we tend to put a lot of effort into planning fun activities for our littles.
And sometimes, they want NOTHING to do with it.
This can be disheartening, but don’t put too much pressure on them or yourself.
It just happens sometimes.
If your child isn’t wanting to participate in the awesome music activity you had planned, don’t let it get you down.
Just try again later or the next day.
Continue to be consistent in incorporating a little music each day, and they’ll soon start to become interested and reap all the benefits that music has to offer.
6. Make Some Memories
Music is such a fantastic way to bond and create memories with your children, so put down the dishes and get it on the fun.
Your kid isn’t going to care what your voice sounds like, so sing loudly.
Turn on some tunes while you cook together, sing them lullabies at night, and take them to some age-appropriate concerts.
The Bottom Line
With these 6 simple tips, you’ll be able to grow and nurture your child’s love for music.
By introducing music to your children at such a young age with these 6 steps, you keep them engaged, motivated, and ready to learn.
This approach can set them up for success in other areas of their life, by teaching them the value of patience, persistence, and having fun learning, among many other things.
So, bring on the instruments and dance moves, and don’t be afraid to sing loud!
Now that I’ve shared my tips on how to introduce music to young children, I’d love to hear from you!
Which tip are you going to try first?
Which do you think your kids would enjoy the most?
Let me know!
Jenny Silverstone is the mother of two and a blogger for Mom Loves Best, where she writes about her journey through motherhood and shares her passions for music, health, and everything related to raising well-balanced kids.
[ Updated – October 28, 2020 ]
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