Benefits of Music for InfantsHow Music Helps Newborn Babies Brain and Emotional Development
Newborns respond to music and aural stimulation from the womb and through infant months of growing. See the benefits of musical selections for babies.
In fetal development the auditory system forms extremely early and the ear is actually the first sensory organ to develop brain connections. And from those first weeks in the womb an infant's ability to process sound and music only grows stronger. When a baby is born he is already able to recognize familiar tunes and songs and distinguish between the voice of his parents and any other voice. Babies show a marked preference for a song sung by their own mother or father than a song sung on tape or CD. Even premies show a preference for soothing classical music over harsher rock beats and studies done in Neonatal Intensive Care Units with premature infants show that soothing music from the Baroque period can lower the blood pressure and stress hormones of these young infants. How Babies Respond to Music
The wonderful thing about singing with an infant is that the baby doesn't care whether your voice is good or you can carry a tune. Sing lullabies like “Go to Sleep” or “Hush, Little Baby” for a few minutes before tucking your baby in for a nap or evening. Make up silly-songs that include the infant's name or describe a daily activity you are doing. Music Selections Infants LoveWhile many instrumental pieces can be beneficial for babies some, even “classical” pieces are not pleasing to young infants. Music for babies should be well-ordered, complex (meaning lots of instruments or a definite melody and harmony part) and be rhythmic without being overwhelming or overly dissonant. Here are a few specific pieces of music that infants enjoy:
Infants respond well to many pieces of classical music and research shows exposure to a variety of musical experiences help baby's brains develop an increased level of neural synapses. Harsh rock music actually weakens brain connections in young infants. So enjoy music, sing, play, dance and move with your babies in a wide variety of ways throughout the day. See more ideas for music games to play with infants and tips for teaching music to toddlers. Sources:
The copyright of the article Benefits of Music for Infants in Infants & Toddlers is owned by Angela England. Permission to republish Benefits of Music for Infants in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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