How Music and Movement Enhance your Child’s (and Family’s) Life
Music is a huge part of my family’s world - first off because my husband and I are both singers, but also because the benefits are through the roof! I imagine that you can close your eyes and picture - or maybe even feel in your body - a time (or likely many times) where music deeply enhanced a moment. Well, the same goes for our kids. We’ve had music playing in our homes, in our cars, since our babies were in utero (yup, they can hear it and reap those benefits right from the start). And not just kids music. In fact, barely kids music! Research shows that the more genres you expose little ones to, the better.
I sit in circles with parents and little daily and throw out some tidbits on how amazing it all is for the developing brain, but thought I’d dive in a bit more thoroughly here!
Studies show that moving and dancing with others enhances bonding and emotional closeness. Melody and natural rhythm in music helps develop memory and enhances learning. They stimulate the brain and have even been proven to increase IQ, improve literacy, listening skills and critical thinking. Movement and dancing has also been found to lead to more efficient communication and a better ability to concentrate.
Here are 6 (of countless) benefits of music and movement:
Express feelings and emotions
Activate he creative and imaginative parts of the brain
Develop and improve small and large motor skills
Enhance coordination and rhythm
Offload stress and stored up physical energy
Builds connection
If you are currently in one of our Family Music Classes or take any type of parent and me class with your littles there are ways you can make sure they’re reaping all these benefits:
Make it a priority to participate in class: sing along, use the instruments the teacher’s using in any given song.
Model paying attention for them. It can be overstimulating when there’s talking and distractions and music all at the same time. And when your child is overstimulated it’s hard for them to “think well” aka make good choices.
Avoid using phones unless there’s an emergency or you need to have it out for an important reason (or if taking a quick pic or vid).
So when you’re trying to get everyone out the door in the morning and make it through the morning routine, or in the car or winding down before bedtime, put some tunes on. The rewards both momentarily and long term will be so worth it. Here’s to lots of dance parties ahead!
*Coming soon: HWG family music class Spotify playlists