As a mother and her young son walked into the dentist office I watched them nervously stand at the reception desk. They sat on two chairs until the frightened boy climbed his mom’s lap. As they waited for her son’s name to be called, I noticed his eyes wander up towards the sound of the music speaker. He started to listen to the slow beat of the pleasant background music and began to calm down.
Comfort
A child enjoying music at a young age is essential to getting the most beneficial results in learning and development. Think of when children are babies, often parents play lullabies as they prepare their child to relax before they fall asleep. Not many toddlers like lullabies because they feel they have outgrown a baby song and want to choose appropriate music on their own.
“Music can improve the mood of the child, thus supporting a healthy emotional state.”
From experience, music is therapeutic for babies, wouldn’t it be a good idea to use music to help children identify their feelings. According to Tamarin Fountain’s article, Benefits of Music for Children: The Effect of Music on Child Development, engaging with (singing and listening to) music can improve the mood of the child, thus supporting a healthy emotional state.
Social skills
Not only does music bring comfort to children, but music also provides many benefits to their social-emotional state. Cathy Piedra-McKenzie writes about when we look at some of the benefits, we find listening helps to improve a child’s confidence, it teaches patience and inspires creativity. Using a music player like Jooki can be a child’s companion for daily skills such as music with content about waking up/doing small chores or tidying up their toys, as examples. Music changes a child’s perception of daily tasks they are required to do on their own and makes the responsibility to themselves a goal.
Confidence
When a child chooses a fun tune they do so with confidence that they are fulfilling an everyday life skill. Children benefit from the degree of pride they feel when they are helping themselves. What’s important to a child is when they personally select and control the music they feel emotionally and personally connected to at that time and place. And because they enjoy when they can change a song or repeat a song they like best, they are recognizing what they need to listen to at that particular time to make themselves feel good and self-soothe their emotions.
“What’s great about Jooki is that a child can personally select and control the music they feel emotionally connected to at that time and place”
Cultivating self-confidence and self-identifying one’s emotions are favorable development skills for all children. After selecting favorite music, listening to that music selection gives a child the experience of controlling their emotions. Learning to enjoy listening to music brings balance to a child’s lifestyle. Playing music not only provides momentary benefits but also lifelong gains in confidence and emotional intelligence.
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By Jodi Mixon Guest Writer at Jooki Jodi is a STEM Specialist who has built a global career in Education Technology |