Making Music With Children

​Hi, I’m Melissa - writer and editor for Author Anita Frost at Green Bean Studios. In my regular features, I’ll be discussing everything from children’s development, to books and publishing, to living a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. You can also find me talking about author news, business, and community projects over on Anita Frost’s author website.  Follow me on Twitter @MelBrannlund or email me at [email protected]

How Does Music Benefit Children’s Learning and Development?

If you spend any amount of time around children you’ll quickly see the effect music has on them. From hearing their first nursery rhymes, to being sung lullabies, to making their own sounds and music, children engage with music on an emotional and physical level.

From birth, music is used by parents and caregivers to soothe children and bond with them. Music also plays a huge role in language development, expanding children’s vocabulary and teaching them about the rhythms of conversation and turn taking in speech. 

As well as mental development, music is instrumental (pun intended!) for children’s physical development, helping with coordination, fine and gross motor skills by copying actions in nursery rhymes, and encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle by getting children moving.

A study conducted by the University of South California’s Brain and Creativity Institute indicated that musical experiences in childhood helped accelerate brain development in reading and acquiring language. Music helps children learn by making the body and mind work together, bringing multi-faceted benefits for children’s physical, mental, social and emotional development.

But there is far more to music than simply being a tool for learning. Music brings pure joy to children (and adults!), allowing them to express their creative individuality, feel good and confident in their own bodies, and engage with other people through dancing and singing to enhance feelings of community and being connected to one another.

As you can see, music has a wealth of benefits for children’s learning and development. Here’s a few ideas for enjoying musical fun with your children at home:

Photo - Green Bean Studios - Musical Productions  
Featuring: Rob Ashton, Dorcas Nakaye

As you can see, music has a wealth of benefits for children’s learning and development. Here’s a few ideas for enjoying musical fun with your children at home:

1. Create your own dance party

• Find some child-friendly tunes on your phone, TV or CDs, then make sure there’s plenty of floor space for moving and grooving! Add to the fun by playing some party games such as musical statues, musical bumps, or giving a prize for the craziest, silliest dance moves.

2. Make your own music
You may already have some musical instruments for children in your home, but if not then you can still make some great rhythms and sounds by using everyday items! 

• Make a drum kit out of kitchen implements such as pots, pans, and wooden spoons.
• Have some arts and crafts fun by making your own guitar. Use an empty tissue box or other cardboard box and stretch some elastic bands over the hole, securing them in place with a bit of sellotape. 
• Make your own percussion shakers using empty kitchen roll tubes or toilet paper tubes - cover one end with paper and secure with sellotape, then put a handful of uncooked rice or dried peas in the tube and seal up the other end with paper and sellotape for a fun, noisy shaker!

​​3. Sing your heart out

• Children don’t care whether you can hit the high notes or get the lyrics right! Sing some familiar songs and encourage your children to join in. Clap your hands, do the actions, and your children will love copying you and getting involved.

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Look out for Melissa's latest articles on Anita Frost's author website, where she'll talk about topics including business and publishing, author news and events, and giving back to communities. You can find her in-depth monthly feature on the News & Media page of the Green Bean Collection website, discussing children's books and reading, early years education, living a greener lifestyle and all things Green Be