Since ancient times, music has been used as a healing medium. Aristotle said “when we hear music and poetry, our souls are changed”. In today’s modern times, experts have revealed the benefits of music. For example, some research on the influence of music on infant and early childhood development.
Through this research, experts reveal that listening to music during pregnancy will help develop brain nerves in babies to process thoughts and information better. Experts also reveal that listening to music for early childhood has benefits on the development of perceptual skills, namely language and literary skills; spatial intelligence, which is related to mathematical abilities, as well as motor coordination.
As with language, music activates every subsystem of the brain, including those involved in motivation and emotion. This is effective for making bonds between individuals better.
According to Dr. Patricia Vardin, chair of the Department of Early Childhood Education at Manhattan College, “listening to music with other people will give children feelings of happiness and strengthen bonds when in a group”. Children who may have difficulty socializing and are shy, will be more open and free when involved in musical activities.
Modern music therapy developed after world wars 1 and 2, when many soldiers suffered from emotional and physical trauma, and they felt better when playing, singing, or just listening to music. To this day music therapy has been shown to be beneficial in child development, mood improvement, recovery from stroke, heart disease, and treatment of neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, amnesia, and depression.
Although clinical treatment is not required for every child, parents can use music therapy techniques to enhance the development of their cognitive, emotional, and physical abilities. Here are some ways to involve music in children:
- Parents can prepare musical instruments such as rings, hanging musical toys, and the like
- Help children by moving their bodies while listening to music.
- Involve music or singing when doing certain activities such as counting objects, cleaning things, etc.
- Use catchy songs to increase their vocabulary.
- Parents can also use songs or songs when telling stories or fairy tales.
The most important benefit of music in children is to improve their mental and physical development, this should be a concern for parents because music can stimulate positive brain work. But it would be nice to accompany them when playing or listening to music because interaction from other people will increase their perception of themselves and those around them.
