Toddlers can get a lot of joy from a wide number of toys, but we may not always see this as the best age for them to be playing instruments. However, getting them started with music early can help them in a number of ways, including those that don’t directly relate to music or playing music.
The act of playing with an instrument can teach toddlers patience, teamwork and much more. To help you with guiding your child in the best ways possible, we’re taking a look at just how musical instruments can benefit toddlers.
Read on and learn why your toddler should be playing with musical instruments!
Benefits of Musical Instruments for Toddlers
Music and musical instruments may have more of an impact on toddlers than you might think. There are a number of skills that playing with instruments can help them to build, which can greatly affect them later in life. Below, we’ll take a look at 12 important ways in which musical instruments can be beneficial to your toddler. Continue on, and enjoy!
1. Social Skills
When pleasant songs are taking place around babies or toddlers and their caretakers, they start to make connections between the pleasant song and the person taking care of them. As a result, they begin to understand that being around that person means good things, and good sounds in particular.
As they grow a little older and start playing with other toddlers, music can work in much the same way to help them with having fun, cooperative playtimes. It’s a great way to foster healthy, happy connections for your child, allowing them to be comfortable around others more easily over time.
2. Patience
Many of us are well aware that toddlers don’t tend to have a whole lot of patience. However, with some gentle guidance and a durable instrument, they can learn how to develop that skill. Creating music takes time and a whole lot of learning, and it shows them that sometimes you need a lot of patience in order to develop a worthwhile skill.
Naturally, this is something that caretakers will also need to promote, otherwise young children may not see the benefit and choose to give up. Instead, teach them that just a little work every day can become something wonderful.
3. Developing Senses
The senses of toddlers are growing rapidly, so it never hurts to add one more thing to the list of items for them to explore. Being able to touch an instrument, hear music being played, and see themselves touching the strings or buttons required to make music can be a hugely important learning experience.
Furthermore, introducing them to the different musical genres can help with their brain function as it grows. New pathways in their mind are opened and become more solidified, which is going to help them with processing information in the long run.
4. Cognitive Abilities
In addition to growing senses, toddlers have rapidly increasing cognitive abilities that need to be guided. Music can be a fantastic helper in this, as it’s able to help produce greater efficiency over time when it comes to learning and understanding new information. It also allows for greater positive brain activity.
This kind of growth is going to help with things like logical thinking and critical thinking. Additionally, they’ll have an easier time with learning and problem solving as they grow and are introduced to more and more situations that require it. Overall, it will help them in all of their cognitive endeavours.
5. Emotional Growth
Many of us rely on music when we need something to calm us down. The same process works for toddlers, helping them to relax when they might otherwise be frustrated, upset or just over-excited. It’s also a great way to help them with processing their own feelings in a healthy way.
Additionally, playing with toy instruments can give them a confidence boost. It’s also fantastic for relieving energy that has built up, allowing them to get the energy out without becoming a household terror. Music and instruments are also vital to self-expression in a number of ways.
6. Creativity
When babies become toddlers, they really begin exploring the world around them in a truly meaningful way. Naturally, they are a very curious lot, seeking to learn more and understand about nearly everything they come across. This also applies to things like musical notes and instruments.
Toddlers are likely to get very creative, using instruments in ways they aren’t intended, or toys not meant for music with the instruments. This is just their way of figuring out how to handle objects in the world around them. They may also attempt to create their own music or songs.
7. Learning Rhythm
Learning about music and instruments also includes learning about rhythm. All music has rhythm, and with some practice, toddlers can start to figure out what that rhythm is. In time, that will allow them to do things like clap or dance to the rhythm without too much trouble. That added dancing is also helpful for their coordination.
Once they’ve mastered understanding rhythm, they can start exploring the concept of creating their own rhythms. This is a great way for them to engage their imagination and develop songs that sound good to them. It’s definitely something worth allowing them to explore and enjoy!
8. Listening Skills
Engaging with music and instruments also means that toddlers will have to learn how to listen well. This might mean listening for different melodies or instruments in a song, or listening to the speed. It may also mean they have to listen as they are given instructions on playing the instrument.
As a result, they begin practicing things like active listening, concentration and focus early. These things can all help them with learning more effectively as they grow older. Furthermore, it’s a great way to help with guiding them through good behaviours and how to behave in a classroom-like space.
9. Memory
There’s a good reason why so many children’s songs are geared towards learning. Using music can help young brains with discovering how to process and recall information more quickly and easily. As a result, they’ll have an easier time with learning things going forward.
Playing an instrument is a fantastic way to help the brain with getting some exercise, allowing it to work on handling information and remembering it. Overall, that memory will be useful in many ways, from standard every day needs to remembering what they are taught in a classroom. You really can’t go wrong when you introduce instruments at a young age.
10. Language
Music comes with a number of different phrases and terms. As children learn about playing instruments, they also end up hearing these terms. Naturally, toddlers aren’t going to know many of those terms already. This makes for a great opportunity to teach them.
On top of that, the music they listen to can also assist in growing their vocabulary. Because of this, it’s a good idea to have a lot of variety available in the music they listen to. As they hear the songs, they will pick up words and ideas from them, giving them a greater pool of language to work with.
11. Motor Skills
As you might expect, playing an instrument, even in play, can help with fine motor skills. Children learn how to pick up and handle instruments carefully. On top of that, they learn how to press specific buttons or pull strings in order to make the instrument work in the correct way.
As they practice these behaviours, they’ll gain greater control over their body movements. This will allow them to function well as they grow into children and adults, and it can also help them with having a greater understanding of instruments if they aim to continue the habit.
12. Self Expression
As your child listens to more music and experiences different instruments, they’ll start to grow their preferences. This is a really important step as it shows them slowly growing into their own person with their own likes and dislikes. You’ll also get to learn exactly what music and instruments sound good to them.
You may even find that they decide they want to continue a certain instrument as they grow older. There are few skills quite like being able to make your own music. It’s certainly one that should be fostered and appreciated, as it’s sure to bring good things for your child.
Summary
There are so many ways in which instruments and music can help a child to grow in healthy ways. It’s not only a solid way to have fun with them, but it also helps to teach them important skills like logic, rhythm and creativity.
In time, they’ll be able to use those skills to grow into competent, happy adults. Additionally, they may end up with some musical values that get passed onto their own children. Overall, fostering a love of music and instruments is really a choice that can only turn out well.
I’d love to know what your favouite musical instruments are your for kids? What’s the most popular in your home? Leave me a comment below and ill get back to you as soon as possible.
Happy Play!
Erica
Check out my other popular articles on the benefits of play for your child: Benefits of Water Play for Your Child
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