Rhymes and playsongs
Whatever their age, all babies and young children enjoy a variety of lullabies, rhymes and playsongs. These are valuable in the everyday looking-after of small children. A song can help change the mood and energy levels - both yours and the child's - to calm when upset, tired or anxious, and to lively when weary or needing to concentrate. Music is also a great way to entertain or keep interest, perhaps during travel or waiting times. It doesn't matter what song you choose - although traditional children's songs are always popular and effective - it matters more how it is sung and that it fits the moment well.
One-to-one songs and rhymes
Time together, just sitting on your knee and doing little rhymes and nonsense games together, is important for young children. Making time for play can be difficult in busy schedules, but it brings all kinds of benefits. Being playful together is about sharing affection, and making children feel loved and secure. These kinds of playsongs and rhymes have many of the building blocks of language, not just the basic vocabulary and words, but also the way language is shared between people.
Movement and dance
Music is about rhythm and movement, particularly dancing to music. Lots of babies enjoy being held and jiggled about to music, or being 'danced' around the room. Older children love to dance freely to recorded music, if you can clear a bit of floor space. It not only feels good but it helps children to develop control over their larger bodily movements. Just watch - they can be wonderfully inventive dancers.
Instruments and other sound makers
Children's toys that can produce sounds - either recorded tunes or single sounds, like the musical mats to trample on, or animals to press and pat - have expanded considerably in the past few years. These can be good playthings if they allow children to produce more sophisticated sounds with simple physical skills.
When considering what to buy, there are two things to ask. First, do I like the sound myself? This is a good test, as some toys produce a thin, unpleasant sound that will soon grate on everyone's ears. And second, how challenging and interesting will this toy be for my child to play with? A press-button toy may offer few challenges in comparison with, say, a simple keyboard.
Music for listening
Young children are receptive to all kinds of music. At home, in the car, in outdoor places, they are likely to be hearing a wide variety of recorded music. Just play them what you are interested in, but it is best if children are exposed to a wide variety. Plenty of CDs and cassette tapes of songs are produced now just for children, as well as some wonderful song and story books which can be read and listened to together. These can vary in quality considerably, so choose carefully.
Young children and even babies may love watching live music being performed and they will enjoy any chance to watch people playing instruments. Buskers and outdoor performances, where children can get up close if they want to, wriggle about or walk away when they're tired, are ideal.
Just one thing - children are highly sensitive to sounds. Have you noticed how they often slap both hands over their ears at loud or unexpected sounds? Take care not to expose them to very loud music.
