Everything You Need to Introduce Your Kids to Music
Exposing your children to music can play a crucial role in their development, and it also allows you more opportunities to bond with them over something truly special. Whether it’s the lullabies you sing to put them to bed or the songs you love rocking out to, you can cross generational boundaries, expand the mind and develop a passion – all through music.
Here are some of our favorite ways to bring the joy of music into a child’s daily life.
Music Genres
While sharing your favorites can be tons of fun, you also want to provide your children the opportunity to develop their own interests. Consider adding a variety of genres and styles to their music introduction.
Children’s Music
A great place to start, children’s music is designed to appeal to young ones with appropriate styles for all ages. They have fun lyrics, catchy melodies and even corresponding movements sometimes.
Popular Music
Whether it’s country, hip hop, rock or R&B, popular music’s rhythmic beats motivate movement and dancing – ideal for adults and kids alike! Just remember to vet the lyrics for adult language and content.
Classical Music
While classical music is complex, it also has predictable melodies that have many benefits, including reducing stress, encouraging creativity and improving learning and memory. Explore genres within this genre, including string quartets, operas, symphonies and more.
World Music
Your child is already exposed to popular music and music from your own culture on a regular basis, but what about music from other cultures? Help your child learn more about other people and places when you bring cultural music from around the globe into the mix!
Exposure to Music at Home
Listening to music at home is easy with access to YouTube, Spotify and storage on mobile devices. Even radio and television offer opportunities for music exposure in the comfort of your own home. However, if you want to keep kids even more engaged and interested, it’s time to explore more unique options they may not have seen before. Whether you get a custom music box with their favorite song or enroll them in a music education course that offers online classes, there are plenty of ways to expose your children to music!
Exposure to Music Outside
Music at home is great, but what about enjoying live music? While it may not be appropriate to take your child to see live bands at every venue, musicals on ice or in theaters are a great way to combine several arts for appreciation. Show kids that music has many venues on stage, from musical theater and opera to ice skating and festivals!
Basic Activities for Musical Exposure
Wondering what actionable steps you can take to introduce your children to music? Here are some fun activities to get you started. In fact, you may already be using some of these tools at home innately in your childcare routines!
Sing to them – even if you think you have a terrible voice. If you’re having fun, so are they.
Teach them to whistle – provide them a creative outlet that offers a sense of challenge and accomplishment.
Play musical games – from musical chairs to hot potato and freeze dance; show how music can be integrated into other activities.
Have music playing in the background – whether you’re cooking, driving or lying around, music is a great backdrop to many activities.
Purchase musical toys – you’ll find children’s versions of drums, pianos, xylophones, guitars and more available in stores.
What’s Best for You?
More than ever, children and parents have unprecedented access to a variety of music online, at home, and through events. Help your child explore more genres, styles and experiences than ever before to ensure they enjoy a lifetime of growth and enjoyment.
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and the world of fitness.
