Is this just something fun to do? What can you possibly teach an infant?
I love being asked these questions because one of the most rewarding experiences I have as a teacher is watching parent’s absolute amazement as their infant responds to our music classes, both in class and at home.
Yes, it’s true that perhaps 4 – 12 month olds may not be ready to shake a shaker egg to the beat or tap the triangle without assistance. In all likelihood, they may prefer to try to eat the rhythm sticks rather than tap them together. But don’t let that fool you! Neurons are firing like crazy, and infants are taking in every subtle nuance that will ultimately lead to an explosion of musical and non-musical skills.
We have all heard infants and children referred to as “sponges” that soak up everything around them. In the first 18 months of life, neural pathways are being created so fast that if adults could replicate the amount that infants learn during this time, every one of us would be a modern day Albert Einstein.
I’ve heard music is beneficial for infants, but is there research to back this up?
The research on the benefits of interactive music classes on infant brain development is astounding, and one definite result of the research is that babies who engage in active music lessons with their parents show a higher level of development in multiple areas than babies who simply listen to music with their parents. Language development, self-soothing and self-discipline, creative expression, fine and gross motor skills, and both verbal and nonverbal communication are just the start of the many benefits of early childhood music classes.
Interactive music classes also provide the infant’s developing brain with the stimulation necessary to develop “intelligent music listening skills.” Cartoons, iPhone apps, and pop music simply do not have enough variety and complexity to truly train an infant’s ear to fully appreciate music and develop these musical listening skills.
Please click here to learn more about the benefits of interactive music classes on the developing brain.
And don’t forget…if nothing else, music classes are fun and friendly! 😀
Each session, we have parents coming to class raving about a new behavior they saw in their infant that was a direct result of music class. Whether it’s clapping, making new sounds, tapping blocks to a beat, or calming down immediately when they hear songs from class, the infant mind is developing faster than any other time in our lives.
But don’t forget that in addition to all of the invaluable benefits your child will gain from participating in an interactive music class, our music classes also simply provide a fun and joyful way to spend quality time with your little one. Our classes are packed full of fun and laughter, and they are a fantastic way to meet other local moms and dads with children the same age. After just a couple weeks of class, I frequently hear parents making lunch plans after class or scheduling playdates for the weekend. It brings us so much joy to see parents and children making friends with one another in our classes!
Check it out for yourself and be amazed by your own infant!
So many parents have shared with me over the years that they joined a music class because they were “looking for something fun to do,” only to be shocked and amazed by how much their child has grown in our classes. So much so that they have stayed with our program all the way through kindergarten.
Now is a great time to come check it out for yourself and be amazed by your own infant! We’d love to have you join our Joyful community. If you are already enrolled, please consider sharing the following link with a friend: https://joyfullearningcenter.com/infant/