Classical Music and How it Engages Children

We have all heard about the Mozart effect and how classical Music can make a genius out of a young child. While some of these claims are a bit misleading, it is undeniable that classical Music can have tremendous positive impacts on a child’s early development.

Impact of Classical Music on Early Childhood Development

Slow and soothing classical music pieces have repeatedly been proven to help infants and toddlers calm down. Works such as Debussy’s Claire de Lune can help reduce a child’s negative feelings like pain and distress. On the other hand, cheerful pieces like Grieg’s Rigaudon can improve your toddler’s mood and keep them happy. Uplifting classical Music has also boosted antibody production and strengthened young children’s immune systems.

How Nurseries Utilize use of Classical Music on Early Childhood Development

Studies in nurseries and daycare have shown that classical Music can improve social interactions between kids. It can also improve performance on spatial tasks like solving puzzles. Lively pieces like Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4 are best suited for such environments and should be played quietly as background music. Children who grow up enjoying classical Music in this form tend to be more creative and can better regulate their emotions.

How to Get Children Interested in Classical Music

Children respond to Music much better when they can engage with it. You aim to give them the support they need while keeping things fresh and storytelling is one of the simplest ways to capture a child’s attention; thankfully, countless works with fascinating child-friendly stories are behind them. Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker are great examples. Narrate the stories while listening to the Music, and discuss the details with your kids. If they are not overly interested, this is alright as children have unlimited imaginations, and will develop regardless of interaction or recognition of the music.

Physical Play using Classical Music

Children become more attentive when physical activity is associated with Music. Classical Music often complements painting wonderfully. You could play a particular piece and let it be an open-ended prompt for a painting activity. Ask the child to paint how the Music made them feel. This activity teaches kids to explore and express their feelings better and is particularly useful for toddlers.

Ideas for Play

Similarly, playtime activities can also be designed around classical Music. Saint-Saens’ The Carnival of Animals is a popular choice of music educators worldwide. Use toys and pictures of lions, elephants, kangaroos, and swans to make the carnival come alive. It’ll surely be a hit among kids who love animals.

Playing Along with Classical Music on an Instrument

Ask your kids to dance or play with the classical piece you selected for more direct engagement with the Music. Naturally, playing the strings, wind, and keyboard in classical works is far too advanced for younger children. However, you could ask them to play along with percussion instruments such as drums, xylophones, and triangles. Remember, all you need for your kids to get the full benefits of classical Music is engagement, not perfection! For More tips on early childhood development check out Triangle Learning Center’s blog!