As a mom, I find it absolutely fascinating to observe how my son grasps the world around him.

There’s something magical about the way music ignites a child’s curiosity, creativity, and cognitive abilities. Early childhood learning is essential for continued learning, and adding music and rhythm to your little one’s STEAM art education at home is a great way to give them a head start in life.

Whether it’s singing along to nursery rhymes, banging on pots and pans, or strumming a tiny guitar, learning through music has the uncanny ability to captivate their attention and turn any learning experience into a captivating adventure.

From enhancing language and learning new words to improved communication skills and problem-solving abilities, we’ll dive into the vast array of benefits instrumental music brings to the table as part of STEAM.

Learning through music games

Research has shown that music significantly aids children’s cognitive development and learning capacities. Not only is music education a great way to get kids active and engaged in the learning process, but music also stimulates the brain to improve creative thinking, and music can help your child pay attention throughout the day.

According to a study by the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute (2016), children engaged in regular musical training demonstrated accelerated brain development, particularly in areas related to language acquisition and reading skills.

The results suggested that musical training profoundly influenced children’s cognitive abilities, boosting their IQ by an average of seven points (Schellenberg, 2004).

This means that music and art activities offer several benefits to young learners and that incorporating music into the educational curriculum can significantly enhance children’s overall learning capabilities and academic performance.

14 benefits of young children learning through music

As discussed in the previous sections, music education can foster numerous benefits for young children. It enhances memory and concentration, bolsters mathematical and reading skills, and promotes creativity.

Music learning also improves social skills, encourages teamwork, and provides a fun, engaging learning atmosphere. Let’s look at the 14 ways your little ones will benefit by using music as you support your child’s learning at home. When I first started teaching my son STEAM concepts at home I overlooked the importance that art has in STEAM, so I want to let you know the benefits that I found this element of STEAM offers children so you can support the growth of your little one today!

1. Strengthens listening & language skills

Regular exposure to varied musical rhythms, tones, and lyrics sharpens auditory perception, enabling children to discern intricate sound patterns, a fundamental aspect of language acquisition.

Music can also amplify vocabulary, reinforce grammar, and enhance comprehension skills through song lyrics to help children learn new words.

Furthermore, music is integral to STEAM activities, fostering creativity, abstract thinking, and problem-solving skills, central to innovation in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

2. Enhances aural discrimination

Music education is a powerful tool for enhancing your child’s aural discrimination skills, a critical aspect of STEAM education. As children engage with music, they learn to distinguish between pitches, volumes, and rhythms, improving their auditory discernment.

This cognitive ability enriches their musical understanding and bolsters their language comprehension and problem-solving skills, both of which are essential in STEAM fields.

3. Improves motor skills

When children engage in activities such as playing an instrument, singing, or moving to a rhythm, they develop fine motor skills and coordination. Drum kits for kids can help your little one build eye-hand coordination and improve motor skills while they have lots of fun!

This kinesthetic learning is particularly beneficial in the early years of childhood development because it fosters physical growth and cognitive enhancement. The integration of music into STEAM education can elevate learning experiences, making them more dynamic and enjoyable.

4. Develops literacy

Music education is a key asset in promoting literacy in children. When children engage with songs, rhymes, and rhythms, they enhance their language comprehension, vocabulary, phonemic awareness, and auditory memory – all vital literacy skills.

Furthermore, music’s structured patterns parallel the structure of mathematics, thereby supporting STEAM learning. As parents fostering at-home education, introducing music can be an effective, enjoyable way to bolster your child’s literacy and STEAM skills.

5. Supports emotional well-being

Music can play a pivotal role in supporting your child’s emotional well-being in tandem with their educational pursuits.

It serves as a form of emotional expression, allowing children to articulate their feelings creatively and constructively. Studies have found that engaging in music reduces anxiety and stress and enhances mood, leading to improved focus and better performance in STEAM fields.

Supplementing your child’s STEAM education with music not only nourishes their academic growth but also cultivates their emotional intelligence, fostering resilience and overall mental health in the long run.

6. Supports phonemic awareness

Through songs, rhythm, and rhyme, children learn to recognize and manipulate the sounds within words. This auditory training can significantly improve their reading and language skills.

For parents, incorporating music education at home can be a fun and effective way to support your child’s learning. Combined with STEAM education, music can provide a rich, multi-sensory learning experience, fostering creative and analytical skills vital for your child’s academic success.

7. Improves problem-solving skills

When children learn to play an instrument or engage in rhythm exercises, they tackle intricate patterns and structures, essentially solving musical ‘problems.’

This process stimulates the same areas of the brain used in mathematical and analytical reasoning, both of which are vital for advancement in engineering, technology, and mathematics.

Incorporating music education at home can significantly bolster your little one’s cognitive abilities, providing a unique and enjoyable approach to enhancing their problem-solving skills.

8. Improves calmness and ability to focus the mind

Musical activities, whether listening, playing, or singing, stimulate brain areas related to attention control and emotional regulation.

They foster a sense of tranquility, reducing anxiety and stress. Research indicates that rhythm and melody can improve cognitive functions, like memory and attention, which are crucial for STEAM subjects.

Adding music education into your child’s daily routine can not only enhance their academic performance but also promote their emotional well-being, creating a balanced learning environment.

9. Improves spatial-awareness

Musical activities like playing an instrument or rhythm games can train the brain to visualize spatial patterns, improving spatial-temporal skills which are critical for problem-solving in areas like mathematics, engineering, and technology.

Studies show that children with music training perform better in tasks involving spatial reasoning. So, by integrating music education at home, parents can offer a fun, enriching way to augment their child’s educational growth and potential success in STEAM disciplines.

10. Music helps children remember concepts

Music can be used as a mnemonic tool, aiding in retaining information related to STEAM subjects. Tunes and rhythms can help children remember complex sequences, formulae, or definitions.

For instance, integrating lyrics about scientific concepts or mathematical procedures with melodies can make learning playful, more effective, and fun!

How music supports other aspects of STEAM

Engaging in music enhances mathematical thinking, as rhythms and scales naturally introduce concepts of fractions, patterns, and physics.

Music-making’s creativity, pattern recognition, and aesthetic appreciation directly support mathematical and scientific learning. Children naturally engage with patterns, fractions, and acoustics by exploring concepts such as rhythm, pitch, and harmony.

Music plays an important role in your child’s development, and music can help your little ones excel at other areas of STEAM for several reasons:

• Science: Music helps children understand various scientific concepts with science STEAM activities, especially in physics and biology. The exploration of sound, vibrations, and pitch presents an opportunity to learn about waves and acoustics.
• Technology: Technological advancements have become integral to music creation and production. By using music, children will be able to engage in technology STEAM activities to help them develop essential digital literacy skills. They learn about sound editing, digital composition, and music production, cultivating an understanding of the interplay between technology and art.
• Engineering: The design and construction of musical instruments for kids offer a practical glimpse into the world of engineering with building STEAM activities. By understanding how different materials and shapes produce various sounds, children learn about materials science, sound engineering, and structural design.
• Arts: Music itself is a form of art that promotes creativity, self-expression, and emotional awareness. It enhances fine motor skills through instrument playing and cultivates auditory skills through listening and singing. As part of a broader arts science education, music contributes to a well-rounded, multi-sensory learning experience.
• Math: Music naturally introduces STEAM math concepts. Rhythms and time signatures teach children about fractions and division, while the patterns and structures in music compositions enhance their understanding of sequences, patterns, and algebraic thinking.

By integrating music into home education, parents can enrich their child’s STEAM learning experience.

Help your little one learn through music!

In conclusion, music is a multifaceted tool that offers a wealth of benefits for children’s at-home learning. It not only sparks creativity and boosts cognitive skills but also supports their comprehension in STEAM subjects.

By incorporating music into daily routines and educational activities, parents can encourage their children’s holistic development.

Remember, you don’t need to be a musical maestro to harness these benefits; simply enjoying and exploring music together can foster an enriching and enjoyable learning environment. Start today and tap into the power of music in shaping your child’s bright future.