Music is part of our everyday lives – from singing along to the radio in the car to tapping our fingers to the beat on the couch. Playing music, singing, and dancing are all great ways to have fun with your toddler while helping his brain grow.
Your voice and body!
Your favorite tunes. Click here to check out our free First 5 Kids Station on Pandora!
Let’s start the music!
One of the earliest "math experiences" a toddler will ever have is through music. That's because beats, rhythms, and melodies can actually help teach early math skills! Simply rocking your toddler and patting his back while you sing a song helps your toddler experience rhythmic patterns through sound and touch.
Sing and dance to the music. Don’t worry about your singing and dancing ability – your toddler just likes that it’s coming from you. Let her watch you move to the rhythm of the music and words of the song. Encourage your child to make her own dance moves! Watch as she starts to try to copy you, too – the more you do it, the more she’ll try on her own.
As you move to the music, you may find yourself tapping things to make them like instruments. Encourage your toddler to do the same – his tummy could be a drum, his hands can clap to the beat, and his feet can stomp to the rhythm of the song.
Music is also an important part of culture and traditions. Introduce your child to family favorites that represent your culture. As long as it has rhythm and language that is appropriate for a toddler, playing any type of music is a great activity to engage with your child.
This activity helps your toddler develop listening skills, visual tracking skills, imitation skills, motor skills, comprehension skills, language, and vocabulary.
