Singing together is a great way for adults to encourage toddlers’ growing language skills during the earliest pre-talking years. Singing together is especially good as it is a fun activity that develops language and confidence but without any pressure to do anything else but have fun and enjoy the moment – and it is completely free!
Singing makes you healthy: Not only is it good for your mental health and mood, but research has shown that singing can actually help build your immune system. Singing is also an aerobic activity as it forces us to breathe in deeply, drawing more oxygen into our bodies and oxygenating our brains, supporting positive brain development.
Singing teaches communication skills: Singing to babies prepares them for communicating later in life as it helps them get used to the structure and inflections of their first language. For toddlers and children, singing strengthens their lips and tongues which encourages clear speaking, expands their vocabulary and teaches them about creative language and rhyme.
Singing helps with brain development: Learning to sing along with your favourite songs is a great way to build up your memory, as you recall lyrics and tunes – just think of how many songs you know off by heart without even trying! Singing with others can also build up your concentration and stamina as you try to keep in tune and follow the pace of the group.
Don’t forget the actions: Action songs are a brilliant way to develop your child’s co-ordination, gross and fine motor skills, as well as their ability to concentrate and focus. Something that might seem simple to you, such as doing the actions to Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, can be a real challenge for little ones and really supports their developing co-ordination and muscle control.
And most of all, singing makes you happy! Singing out loud releases feel-good hormones called endorphins that make you feel happy and positive. There is also a tiny part of your inner ear, called the sacculus, that releases even more happy hormones when it’s stimulated by music.
There are lots of videos for you and your child to sing along with on the EY Alliance YouTube Channel here
