Thanks to a little something called ‘The Mozart Effect’ there are a lot of parents bombarding their children’s ears with classical music, in particular, Mozart. The theory, researched in the 1900’s by Frances Rauscher, was that listening to the music of Amadeus Mozart increased neuron pathways in the brain and had a positive effect on intelligence.
Many experts have ridiculed this theory and parents have begun to experiment with different music styles to gain insight as to their child’s individual preferences. If you have consistently played a certain type of music to your child then it might be time to download some new tunes!
Research has, however, shown that children can remember music that was played to them in the womb. Babies are able to hear at around the 20-week pregnancy mark and will often become relaxed when their mother is – this relaxation can be marked by particular sounds so it is common for a newborn baby to show signs of relaxation when played its mother’s favourite music or upon hearing the theme tune of its mother’s favourite TV program.
We’ve listed some suggestions for different types of music that are perfect for different situations:
Music for Bedtime
The soothing tones of jazz music are often successful in mellowing children out at bedtime. If you are finding it difficult to get your child off to sleep try playing the same music to them every bedtime, this will settle them into a routine that signals bedtime. Anything calming will aid sleep and allow parents to get some much-needed shut-eye too!
Music for Homework
This is where classical and instrumental music styles come in handy; when attempting to learn something it is helpful to listen to music that doesn’t include lyrics. If you study whilst listening to rap music you may find that you can only successfully remember what you have learnt if you play the same music again. This is where the Mozart Effect may come in handy.
Music for Play/Exercise Time
If you want to inject a little energy into your little angels (although they are probably already bouncing off the walls by now) then rock, pop and dance music should be on your ‘must download’ list. If your child likes the music you are playing they are more likely to dance and sing along – ask them what they want to listen to.
Whether you want your child to be more energetic, become a successful musician, or simply nod off a little easier, get them listening to some music.
My children love music of all kinds. They do not really get to listen to the radio as I mostly select the music they can hear. They are only 3 & 5.
Classical music inspired my 4 year old in Violin. We started her in a Suzuki program when she was three. Before we could enter the program, we had to complete an extensive observation period. During that time we observed kids in classes, listened to violin pieces, etc. It really inspired her to want to play the violin. It was AMAZING.
Now, she is very very good at it. She recognizes some pieces and can hum them on her own. The listening made her excited about it!