WHY SINGING IS SO IMPORTANT FOR YOUR YOUNG CHILD AND YOU
Rachel Buchman, ©2005

SINGING ENCOURAGES BRAIN AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. READING, PLAYING PRETEND GAMES AND SINGING ARE THE THREE ESSENTIAL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES PARENTS SHOULD DO WITH A CHILD.

HOW SINGING ENCOURAGES LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
Singing encourages self-expression
Singing encourages vocal imitation
Singing gives a child verbal confidence and develops an eagerness to communicate
Singing exercises the lips and tongue
Singing helps children to speak more clearly and with greater ease
Singing teaches grammar and vocabulary, as does the recitation of poetry
Singing teaches phrasing
Singing teaches storytelling (sequencing of events)
Singing teaches patterning, rhythm and rhyme
Singing gives children tools of verbal communication
Singing teaches children how to listen, how to enjoy listening and how to think while listening

BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
Singing causes endorphins to flow, stimulating good feeling throughout the body and stimulating brain activity
Singing encourages deep breathing, which brings more oxygen to the brain
Singing requires the brain to work at many tasks simultaneously
Singing strengthens memory
Singing teaches opposites, such as fast and slow, loud and quiet, long and short, tension and release. Every good song carries some of these elements of contrast in it.
Singing and dancing teach the basic equation of space = energy x time (or distance = rate x time)

SINGING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIMARY MUSICAL EXPERIENCE. SINGING SHOULD BE WELL ESTABLISHED AND STRONG BEFORE INSTRUMENTAL LESSONS ARE STARTED. THE MOST PERFECT OF INSTRUMENTS IS BUILT RIGHT INTO OUR OWN BODIES - OUR VOICES!

A song is something you can share, it doesn't wear out or get broken, you can take it anywhere and it doesn't cost a dime!

All children love to sing, but boys are often especially strong singers. Keep your boys connected to their singing voices because they will stop singing and playing instruments long before girls do and once they stop many of them NEVER start again.

Singing is an essential tool to foster development and healing in children with any kind of special needs.

IF MUSIC CAN BRING JOY AND BEAUTY INTO OUR LIVES SO EASILY, WHY SHOULDN'T WE ALL SING?!