Many parents intuitively use music to calm and soothe children, to express their love and affection, and to entertain them. Now, according to a recent study conducted by University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute, music-related experiences in early childhood could accelerate brain development, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills and they could promote improvements in the learning process. In addition, music can stimulate the brain’s alpha waves, which creates a sense of calmness in the listener. Other studies confirm that early music exposure produce great benefits on the development of perceptual skills.
Besides the developmental benefits of music, why is music so important for babies and for us all? To sum it up, music provides us with joy. Just think about listening to a cute music piece on the car radio with the window down on a sunny day.
In infants soft and cute music can have a key role to calm them down or to cheer them up as they recognize the melody of a song long before they understand the words. A quiet, relaxing music can be soothing for infants, especially at sleep time or to ease pain. Simple music is perfect for infants, just remember to sing in a high, soft voice.
Teenagers use music in a different way. To some of them music is a source of identity. Very often, for teenagers finding others who share an affinity for a band gives them a sense of belonging and helps them shape their confidence. To others it can be helpful to overcome difficult times as many of the words in popular songs often express their own feelings and experiences, dealing with teen-targeted issues. And that’s crucial to keep themselves motivated. Moreover, it plays an important role in defining their world and values and it can be helpful to improve their self-esteem. It also create a comfortable, safe place to study and to learn in a positive environment.