Music Lessons for Toddlers
Today's children are beginning to take lessons and train for sports earlier than in previous generations. Organizations even offer musical education classes for children as young as a year and a half to 3 years old, children generally considered to be toddlers.
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Too Young for Lessons?
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Many professionals in the child development and health industry, such as pediatrician David Geller, believe that toddlers can benefit from music lessons and classes. Though many instrument instructors prefer that children wait until they are at least 5 years old to begin formal lessons on a musical instrument, when they have larger hands and longer attention spans, children can benefit simply from the exposure to music these lessons and classes offer.
Class Content
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Many toddler-level lessons focus on teaching toddlers about music through having them engage with music. These activities can range from preschool activities such as singing common nursery rhymes to allowing the toddler to use simple instruments, such as a drum. Some classes also use other instruments and activities to link the music with the toddlers' other senses, such as textured toys for specific songs and synchronized movement activities.
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Benefits
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Early music lessons can help a toddler's cognitive development. Toddlers' brains are developing rapidly, and introducing them to rich sensory environments can help form new neural connections. These extra neural connections help children in many aspects of learning later in life, not just music. Additionally, wide exposure to music at an early age can help children appreciate music more when they mature.
Lessons
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Though many programs and organizations offer structured lessons in music for toddlers, Dr. Geller says the brain is ready for formal instruction around age 3, right at the end of the toddler years. So while these classes do expose your toddler to music and provide an activity you can participate in with her, you do not need to go to a formal class to give your toddler music lessons. Her lessons can consist of you playing music for her, singing along with her and moving together to the music.
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References
- Photo Credit toddler in the park image by cat from Fotolia.com
