Turning Pages and Humming Tunes: The Magic of Reading and Singing with Kids

Imagine a cozy moment: a child curled up beside a loved one, eyes wide with wonder as a story unfolds, or their giggles fill the air as a silly song becomes a duet. These simple yet powerful acts of reading and singing are more than just entertainment; they are the building blocks of a child’s development. From boosting language skills to fostering emotional connection, the rhythms of a melody and the magic of a story can shape a child’s mind and heart in ways that last a lifetime. Let's explore why these moments matter and how they nurture young minds.

The Power of Reading with Your Child

During the first two years of life, children make significant progress in language acquisition, which lays the foundation for the oral language skills they will develop later. Infants start picking up on language early on, with research showing that babies’ brains prepare to speak way before they start saying their first word (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2024). Children need to be spoken to to prepare to hear and begin processing language. Research highlights that both the quantity and quality of speech exposure during this critical period strongly influence language development (Rosslund et al., 2024). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also emphasizes the importance of reading during infancy, noting that this period is vital for brain development. Beyond supporting language acquisition, reading fosters a solid parent-child relationship (AAP, 2024). Shared reading has been shown to strengthen bonds between caregivers and children, stimulate neural connections in the brain, and enhance emotional attachment (AAP, 2024). Establishing a consistent reading routine creates meaningful bonding moments and promotes a sense of stability for the child. Studies indicate that frequent reading to children at ages one and two significantly expands their vocabulary compared to peers who are read to less often. Conversely, increased screen time has been associated with reduced vocabulary development in two-year-olds (Rosslund et al., 2024). These findings underscore the importance of making thoughtful choices about your child’s daily experiences, as they play a pivotal role in their growth and development.

The Role of Singing in Childhood Development

Before children begin speaking, they are naturally drawn to sounds and melodies. Incorporating sounds and music into their lives enhances language skills and cognitive development and fosters a sense of connection and togetherness (Farmer Kris, 2021). Songs, in particular, offer a unique opportunity to stimulate multiple areas of brain development. They enhance working memory, improve attention, and support language acquisition (Farmer Kris, 2021). Far from being a trivial activity, music plays a crucial role in early learning, with rhythm directly linked to developing reading skills (Flaugnacco et al., 2024). Music’s benefits extend beyond speech development. Phonological growth, essential for language learning, is closely tied to rhythmic and metrical patterns (Flaugnacco et al., 2024). Additionally, music engages sensory-motor and emotional systems, helping children develop emotional regulation strategies. Remarkably, music has been shown to alter the brain's structure and function, with noticeable improvements observed in both children and adults after just one year of musical training (Herholz & Zatorre, 2012; Hyde et al., 2009). These findings underscore the lifelong benefits of engaging with music, demonstrating that it’s never too late to start. Research by neuroscientists at the University of Southern California revealed that music instruction accelerates brain development, particularly in areas associated with communication, language, and reading (Habibi et al., 2016). Early exposure to music and continued musical engagement enhance neuroplasticity by strengthening auditory pathways, which is crucial for these skills. When deciding whether to sing that “silly” song to your child, remember that music is far more impactful than it appears—it profoundly supports their emotional, cognitive, and linguistic growth

You can slow videos down by hitting the settings icon and slowing the speed to .75 or lower for your child. This can increase retention and the ability to follow along!

What to Read and What NOT to Read

Following development, it is essential to continue growing the vocabulary and education of your child through new and age-appropriate books. Some books show the developmentally appropriate ages and milestones met or needed for books. Websites are also helpful when determining a book's appropriateness for your child. Common Sense Media rates books and movies based on age appropriateness and learning value. For example, the book Be Kind is placed in the “Books that Teach Empathy” category and is recommended for children ages 3+.

Meaningful Beginnings offers recommendations for children 6 months and older.

  • 6 months - 2 years: Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, Goodnight Moon, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

  • 3 -5 years (Preschool): The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Pete the Cat, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

  • 6-8 years (Early Elementary): Junie B Jones Series, Magic Tree House Series, and Here’s Hank Series

  • 9-12 year (Tweens): Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Little Women, and Isaac the Alchemist: Secrets of Isaac Newton, Revealed

  • 13 years + (Teens): It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime, Superman: Dawnbreaker, and Unbroken (The Young Adult Adaptation)

What to Sing and What NOT to Sing

Cocomelon is a controversial show, and some parents are concerned about its negative impact on a child’s development. The songs are fast-paced, and screens flash new pictures quickly, which can cause rapid dopamine release in a young child’s brain, leading to behavioral effects. This is a choice that is up to the parent as no studies have been done on this particular show to confirm these effects. However, there are more educational options, such as SuperSimpleSongs and Koo Koo, examples of academic and cognitively stimulating songs you can utilize to support your child’s engagement. The critical thing to recognize is that many of the cognitive, bonding, and developmental outcomes linked to music come from shared musical activities. Vocabulary, numeracy, attention, emotional regulation, and social skills are related to shared home activities in children (Williams et al., 2015). Parent-child home music activities support children's development, not a show they can watch, and that doesn’t make them think, memorize, or move. Songs from Koo Koo, such as Pop See Ko, are often interactive and can involve the whole family, allowing for moving, singing, creativity, and bonding.

Sing Along Stories

If you want the best of both worlds with your child being able to sing and read, there are various options to support your child’s engagement and create a time for family bonding. This website talks about the power of song and how incorporating these in your child’s routine can benefit their development.

For babies
Moo, Baa, La La La!

Tickle Time!

Sing with Me!

10 Little Kisses

Preschool to Grade 2
There’s a Hole in the Log on the Bottom of the Lake

We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands

Miss Mary Mack: A Hand-Clapping Rhyme

Space Song Rocket Ride

That’s What I’d Do

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2024, September 29). American Academy of Pediatrics Promotes Shares Reading Starting in Infancy as a Positive Parenting Practice with Lifelong Benefits. https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2024/american-academy-of-pediatrics-promotes-shared-reading-starting-in-infancy-as-a-positive-parenting-practice-with-lifelong-benefits/

Farmer Kris, D. (2021, October 19). The simple power of singing to kids. Public Broadcasting Service. https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/the-simple-power-of-singing-to-kids

Flaugnacco, E., Lopez, L., Terribili, C., Zoia, S., Buda, S., Tilli, S., Monasta, L., Montico, M., Sila, A., Ronfani, L., & Schön, D. (2014). Rhythm perception and production predict reading abilities in developmental dyslexia. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 8, 392. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00392

Habibi, A., Cahn, B. R., Damasio, A., & Damasio, H. (2016). Neural correlates of accelerated auditory processing in children engaged in music training. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 21(C), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2016.04.003

Herholz S. C., Zatorre R. J. (2012). Musical training as a framework for brain plasticity: behavior, function, and structure. Neuron, 76, 486–502 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.10.011

Hyde K. L., Lerch J., Norton A., Forgeard M., Winner E., Evans A. C., et al. (2009). Musical training shapes structural brain development. Journal of Neuroscience, 29, 3019–3025 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5118-08.2009

Rosslund, A., Kartushina, N., & Mayor, J. (2024). Associations between shared book reading, daily screen time and infants’ vocabulary size. Journal of Child Language, 1–13. doi:10.1017/S0305000924000291

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024, February). Read it again! Benefits of reading to young children. Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/publication/read-it-again-benefits-reading-young-children

Williams, K, E., Barrett, M, S., Welch, G., F., Abad, V., Broughton, M. (2015). Associations between early shared music activities in the home and later child outcomes: Findings from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 31, 113-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2015.01.004.

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