4 Tips for Making Time for Music in Your Family

| By Guest Author In Home Schooling |

Scholastic.com reports that 95 percent of parents believe that music is a crucial and important part of child education. These benefits can come in the classroom and they can also be cultivated in the home. With our modern, fast-paced lifestyles, it’s easy to get caught up in other activities and forget all about music, since it often becomes an after-thought or background noise. This isn’t a reason to avoid music, though. On the contrary, families should always try to set aside time to create and enjoy music together. Music develops memory and helps kids to feel mentally well.

Music has a powerful influence on our lives and our culture. There’s a reason why children learn their alphabet with a song, and why we sing hymns in church: Music reaches us differently than other types of communication. Music can help people develop better critical thinking skills, help shape their relationships and bring happiness to your life. Sharing music with your family can bring you together and make you all closer. Here are a few tips from music educators that will help you bring music into your life, no matter how booked your schedule is.

1. Sing.

From singing lullabies to your infant to singing along with the radio, singing invokes something powerful in our hearts: It makes us feel connected to each other and the wider world. Sing often, and encourage your kids to join in.

2. Have kid-friendly instruments on hand.

Children love making noise even from a very young age, and you can cultivate that into an interest in music by teaching the basics of rhythm and beats. Offer accessible, durable instruments like shakers, hand drums or harmonicas and let your kids experiment whenever they feel like it.

3. Find music you can all enjoy.

Many people shy away from music education with their children because sing-song rhymes and children’s songs don’t appeal to them. The truth is that kids don’t just like childish songs; they can also appreciate whatever you listen to. Teach your children the lyrics to a favorite hymn or even help them foster a love of Eric Clapton. Whatever you like, they can like too.

4. Dance.

Making and listening to music isn’t the only part of the experience to enjoy. Dancing is a powerful form of self-expression, and it can improve coordination and overall healthfulness as well. It doesn’t really matter what you’re dancing to, but take the time to dance around the living room sometimes with your kids. They’ll have lots of fun and it’ll only take a few minutes out of your day.

You don’t need to employ all of these strategies every day, but implementing these tips can help add brief moments of music to your life. Even just small changes to your routine can help your children foster a love of music that could blossom into talent, or just enrich their lives.

Natalie Winters writes for education blogs nationwide. Several schools offer degrees in music education including University of Florida and New York University.

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