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Music enchants children. Its magic reaches out to them even inside the womb. During the later parts of infancy, they almost always instinctively sway, bounce, or move their heads to its beat. Toddlers garble out nursery songs they hardly understand long before they can read, write, or talk coherently. And as they grow older, they learn how to make up songs.

As much as they love to listen, children love to create music. Whether it's singing off-key, banging a rattle against the wall, or pounding on a toy piano, nothing can stop them from trying to imitate the different sounds of music.

Self-expression through music should be encouraged so kids may increase appreciation for it as they grow older. A way to do this is to provide musical instruments such as a tambourine or a toy piano. It's also a good idea to play nursery songs in the background while a child is playing or drawing.

Musical Effects

Helping kids hold on to and increase their fondness of music will not only result in discovering talents. It will also bring positive effects to their well-being. Here are some key benefits that music can bring to children:

- Music encourages children to be more expressive. They can bang on their little drums when they're mad or they can stroke the keys of their toy piano cheerfully when they're happy.

- Music promotes self-esteem. When children realize that they can handle a musical instrument, sing a song aloud, or sway with the beat, they'll feel proud of themselves and their abilities.

- Music gives knowledge. Constant exposure to music such as folk songs, praise music and nursery rhymes will make it easy for a child to understand values and feelings even before they begin to go to school. Parents should be ready to give answers when their children want song lyrics to be explained.

- Music inspires creativity. Because of what they hear, children may get inspired to explore other forms of art such as drawing or painting to further give life to a song. They may illustrate the complete cast of Old McDonald's Farm or show how the Big Rock Candy Mountains appear in their minds. Because of the early exposure to a kid's harp or a toy piano, a child may be motivated to write songs or compose music early on in life.

- Music develops communication skills. Getting better at the toy piano entails the same skills needed to learn how to read. Musical lyrics may help increase a child's vocabulary. New ideas are learned through a song's story line and kids can get better at articulating these ideas.

- Music helps children achieve goals. With the intent to master an instrument, a child learns the concept of staying focused to attain an objective. At an early age, they are already equipped with values that can help them become successful grown-ups.

But just like any other recreational means, music should not be imposed on your children. Teaching a child how to play a musical instrument or having him take part in voice lessons should not result in tantrums every time a session starts. Your child should love and enjoy musical activities in order for music to have a positive effect in your child's life.