This post is also available in Dutch.
“November 11th is the day when my light may shine.” Today, children across the Netherlands march with their lanterns, singing songs and gathering candy to celebrate Saint Martin’s Day. This tradition shows how music becomes a part of children’s lives from an early age, surrounding us and shaping our experiences from childhood. Parents sing lullabies to soothe their babies to sleep, we learn new tunes through shows like Sesame Street, and at daycare, there’s a song for every activity—whether it is handwashing, tidying up, or eating fruit.
What does all this exposure to music actually do for children’s brain development?
Hearing begins in the womb
Did you know that babies can hear even before they are born? Around the 25th week of pregnancy, a fetus begins to respond to sounds. In the womb, they are surrounded by the whooshing of the placenta, the rhythmic beating of their mother’s heart, and of course, her voice. These early auditory experiences lay the foundation for their hearing development. After birth, newborns recognize their mother’s voice and prefer it to other voices. This suggests that auditory learning and memory begin as early as in the womb.
Music as a learning tool for everyday life
Songs are not just fun, but they are also useful learning tools. They make it easier to remember new words and concepts. By singing about colors, shapes, or numbers, children can acquire essential skills in a playful way. Music also promotes language development, stimulating brain areas involved in language processing.
In a daycare, music is often used to provide structure. Songs help children understand routines and make transitions between activities easier. For instance, a clean-up song can smooth the shift from playtime to snack time.
Making music yourself: a boost for the brain
When children play an instrument themselves, the influence of music goes one step further. Actively making music requires coordination between motor skills, hearing, and cognitive functions, leading to structural changes in the brain. Moreover, children who take music lessons often show improvements in their problem-solving abilities, attention and memory.
Conclusion
Music is more than just a fun activity; it plays a vital role in the development of a child’s brain. From the time children are in the womb to their first musical steps, music helps them grow, learn and understand the world around them. So tonight, when the children sing songs for Saint Martin’s, we know they are not only having fun, but also that their brains are developing!
Author: Hilde Althof
Buddy: Maartje Koot
Editor: Lucas Geelen
Translation: Siddharth Chaturvedi
Editor translation: Amir Homayun Hallajian
Image by Jelleke Vanooteghem via Unsplash
