All parents can easily test the power of music and gentle songs on calming babies when they’re restless, but there’s more than one reason to introduce your children to the wonders of music from an early age.
Many scientific researches conclude that music brings another super-power to light: it also helps the brain’s development and improves cognitive skills in children.
As some neuroimaging research found out, early music training produces physical effects in the brain’s structure and functions, increasing white matter and consequently, brain connectivity.
Another study pointed out that musical training can improve coordination and help children acquire a better ability to handle frustrations and difficult situations, therefore, avoiding negative over-reactions. Sounds good, right? Less tantrums!
And the power of music can go beyond all this: it drives children to higher language processing abilities, contributing on the development of cognitive functions such as attention, visual-spatial perception, and executive functions but also auditory skills and cognitive flexibility.
If this may look a little theoric, let’s see some practical effect of music you could see on your baby: they could develop perceptual, language and literacy skills and/or numeracy abilities. Playing an instrument can also lead to a sense of achievement as well as an increase in self-esteem.
How can you benefit from music in your day-by-day family life?
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Sing for your baby in the womb
Music might soothe your baby, even before birth, since your baby starts hearing sounds very soon. Your voice is the favorite sound of your baby, so singing gentle songs is the best way to make your baby listen to music they appreciate.
As you talk, sing, or read aloud to your baby, your voice vibrates and amplifies inside of your body so your baby can hear it very close and develop familiarity with sounds and melodies you enjoy. Keep in mind that inside of your belly your baby constantly hears a lot of sounds and noises: your heart beating, your stomach gurgling and your amplificated voices are loudly heard by your baby, when you are pregnant. That’s why you should mind the volume of music around you: a constant exposure to high music or noises is not a good idea, and that’s the reason why even putting your earphones on your belly could not be a good idea. It’s recommended to avoid loud concerts after 18 weeks, but you can occasionally attend music concerts while you are pregnant and listen to some music at home.
Once your baby is born, they will love to hear you speak or sing, since your voice sounds already familiar. Your infant will love some gentle music too! Choose music toys which are best suited to his very early age, such as these two colourful and beautiful Hape music toys:
Baby Drum: This rolling and highly engaging Baby Drum will lead your child to the joy of rhythm, while they make funky beats and music by tapping the coloured circles! Hape Baby Drum encourages your child to crawl by rolling it to hear the sweet music and see its colourful flashing lights.
Rotating Music Box: A soothing and gentle toy that will encourage young children to explore and experience music in a funny way. New-borns will love 
to watch the Rotating Music Box spin, listening to its soothing music. Rotating Music Box will be a loved companion of your baby! It is also great for helping your little ones fall to sleep.
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Provide simple music toy for infants and toddlers
Musical toys are then a very good start in order to introduce toddlers to the wonders of music. While playing with musical toys children can learn the cause and effect of making sounds and acquire self-awareness through their senses exploration.
Need advice on good music toys for toddlers
The perfect toy for your little one-person band: a multi-instrument table with drum, xylophone, cymbal, scratch board, clapper and two sticks. Hape Mighty Mini Band is perfect to introduce your toddler to the wonders of rhythm and music.
The perfect toy for your little one-person band: a multi-instrument table with drum, xylophone, cymbal, scratch board, clapper and two sticks. Hape Mighty Mini Band is perfect to introduce your toddler to the wonders of rhythm and music.
This multifunctional Shape Sorter Xylophone is a piano, xylophone and shape sorting game all rolled into one. Your toddler will enjoy matching the puzzle pieces to their corresponding spots by either shape or colour and making wonderful music. Press the shapes when sorted correctly to play them like a piano!
What toy will be the favourite of your baby or infant?
Discover all Hape toys and let the Harmony of Music fill your family with joy!
PLAYFUL PIANO
Let the music play! Eighteen kid-sized keys on this sturdy wooden piano provide a scale and more of fun for mini maestros.
PASTA SET
Here's everything a mini chef needs to make and serve a favorite meal.
LEARN WITH LIGHTS HARMONICA
This fantastic, first-of-its-kind harmonica will light up and teach you to play five tunes! Simply connect the harmonica to the Light Up Play Panel, follow the guiding lights (red indicates to blow out and blue to suck in) and you'll have mastered the five tunes in no time!
HAPPY GRAND PIANO, BLACK
Budding concert pianists will easily scale the 30 keys of this colorful wood grand piano, made for small hands and big sounds.
METRO POLICE DEPT PLAYSET
Tell your own story of cops and robbers with this fantastic police station playset! The two-level station features a jail cell with opening door, an office, a helicopter with its own landing pad, a police car with parking space, one police officer, one prisoner and loads of police equipment accessories - even a police dog!
