It’s music to my ears

We’ve all read the research, music is good for your baby. From toys that play Mozart to Mr. Rogers Neighborhood (did I just date myself??) your baby is surrounded by it. And it’s a good thing! You may be sick of ‘Baby Shark’ but repetition is actually one of the best ways you can expose your child to sounds, words and language, as well as other ways.

Have you ever notice that in children’s shows when they want to get a message across a song comes on? It’s no coincidence and I even catch myself even humming along. Music wakes up parts of the brain that connect to language and communication that simple speech does not. Although I always encourage parents to talk to their baby, singing is also a very good habit to get into. Even if you just sing-song your day while doing chores this will help a great deal with your baby connecting words together.
As mentioned before, repetition is also very important for a baby’s development in language. This is very easy done through song since choruses in songs then the play three times or more. Also it’s best when singing while the event is happening. For example, if you’re washing baby’s hands you can sing the song ‘This is the way we wash our hands’ at the same time. That way it’s relevant to what’s going on (plus it’s not a boring!).

I love when I sing to a baby or toddler and their eyes light up and they get into the song. There are even songs with motions which can be an added bonus if the goal is to teach sign at the same time. It’s all about getting the child’s attention and getting on their level. Keep an eye out for behaviors like, if they prefer songs with strong hand movements, or fast words. And most importantly, have fun with it!