Underground Journal

Musical Toys for the Developing Child

Music is all around us and can express feelings and moods as we listen to it. Making music is something that is a big part of many people’s lives and if introduced early to our children can foster a lifelong love. Many professional musicians began playing music as small children and the latest research shows that music can have an effect on the way a child learns and develops. We can introduce music  to our children early with good quality musical toys that they will enjoy playing with and which will help to enhance their development.

Why is it so important to introduce music early in a child’s life? The developing brain makes connections as it grows and the more an action is repeated the stronger the connections. These pathways are vital for growth and development and the performance of complex tasks and music has been shown to enhance this growth. Listening to classical music has been found during research to help this development more than other kinds of music perhaps because of the complex rhythms and melodies inherent in this kind of music. Spacial abilities were found to be enhanced after a person listens to classical music for a short time in these tests.

However it has also been found that this effect is further strengthened when learning to play a musical instrument. Why is this important? Enhancing the formation of pathways in the brain can have a profound effect on the ability to perform complex tasks so introducing classical music to small children can really help in their development.

So it is a great idea to introduce music of all kinds from an early age and to encourage them to make their own music. We can begin very early in a child’s life by using musical mobiles above their cribs or musical play mats such as the Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies & Lights Deluxe Gym which is designed to stimulate and entertain babies.

All children love to make music and we can make this easy for them, and easier on our ears by giving them good quality musical toys that will produce pleasant sounds. Musical bells are a great way for small children to make melodic sounds and can be used in groups for a combined experience. Children love to bang on drums but parents may not be so happy with the sound. however we don’t have to settle for the tinny sounds of a cheap drum. There are some drums, such as a Remo drum set, that may cost a little more but will be appreciated by parents and children alike.

Children everywhere love to make music and we should encourage them by providing good quality musical toys that they will have fun with and which parents will enjoy listening to.

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