When you read the poem The 100 Languages by Loris Malaguzzi, what are some of the languages that spring to mind? Do you think of music as a language?
Children have always loved music; they have an innately strong sense of rhythm, beat and pitch. These days, we understand much more about the impact of music and its importance through brain imaging and scans. Just like in other areas of their development, such as speaking, writing, crawling, walking and the other areas of the arts, there are developmental milestones.
Exposing children to different types of music – like providing a variety of food or stories or activities – is important. Different types and genres of music have different impacts on children’s brains, from babies through to adolescence. For babies, music activates the sensory processing. Rhythm and timing support emotional regulation. The brain is responding to pattern, tone and repetition. Hence, slow and predictable sounds like lullabies help to stabilise the heartbeat and breathing, strengthens connection and signals safety, not unlike the experience of being in the womb.
For toddlers, there are strong connections with music and their language development, memory and movement. Songs pair words with rhythm, which makes speech easier to learn and remember – hence the enormous amount of repetition at this age. Emotionally, music gives toddlers an outlet for their big feelings before they have the words to express them. Through singing, movement and repetition, the brain is learning how feelings move through the body.
In the pre-school years from four to six years old, music engages attention, imagination and executive functioning. The brain can hold different structures while playing freely. In these years, children are able to use music to regulate emotions, rehearse ideas and focus during tasks. Music has become a tool, not just a stimulus.
Music is not just background noise; it fulfils many functions and has different roles at the different stages of children’s development. In the ELC, we offer many different music opportunities at different times of the day and at different stages of children's development.
Exposing children to different types of music is as important as exposing them to different types of food. What is your musical diet like? What are your music choices at different times?
Wendy Seidler
ELC Director – Kew campus
