Rocking out and rocking in school.

My kids, ages 5 and 3, share a battered boom box. It has blasted everything from Michael Jackson to Vampire Weekend and Putumayo Kids to They Might Be Giants. They enjoy singing and dancing along to all kinds of music. Apparently, there’s more to all this than a great workout and fun.

Neuroscientists and educators are all for music and its role in development. They believe that if children are immersed in songs and movement they are enjoying a “rich sensory environment.” A child exposed to a wide variety of tastes, smells, textures, colors and sounds is doing more than just having fun. Stimulate a child’s senses and he forges more pathways between brain cells.

Music in particular has been identified as a great tool for forging neural pathways for kids 0 to 5 years old. Listening to those tunes is definitely beneficial, but the strongest connections are made when kids actively participate in music.

Many studies prove that children who play instruments, who sing or dance to music often

• do better in reading and math,
• have better focus,
• play better with others,
• have higher self esteem.

If you have a toddler or preschooler at home, the simplest thing to do is put on some music and dance with your child. Just have fun with it. Silliness is called for!

You can make musical experiences more visual by adding props to the movement. For example, scarves can show ascending and descending pitches. Let them bang along with toy drums or shake to the beat with maracas. These are just some things they do in typical music and movement classes. You can also sign up for a class to see what they’re all about. Many preschools and young learning centers offer fun music and movement programs.

Try musical field trips and take your kids to a live music performance especially produced for children. Museums, libraries and parks often host performances by music artists that appeal to the young set.

As they get older, encourage their musical inclinations. Get them music lessons if they want to.

My son started taking drum lessons last summer and he’s still into it now that school is in full swing. The drum lessons turned into more than something to pass the time away during vacation. He even wants his own drum set now. Some music educators say, playing drums is essentially counting slices of time and building patterns. I think I’m convinced.

In the last parent teacher conference for my five-year-old, I was told he is reading beyond his grade level and that his “ultimate favorite subject of all time” (his words, his teachers concur) is… MATH. I have always disliked numbers myself, but maybe I shouldn’t be surprised if little drummer boy has grown an affinity for them. At least I know how to count my blessings!

Drummer boy’s little sister like singing and dancing. Now I’m thinking voice or violin lessons for her.

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