As a parent, caregiver, or loved one of a child, one of the most important things you need to do for the child in your life is help them build confidence. Sometimes, it can be quite difficult to know how to best encourage and challenge your child at the same time. One discipline that lends itself very well to building confidence while gaining skills is music. Music classes can benefit children of all different ages and skill levels—keep reading to learn how the power of music can help instill confidence in children:
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Music Encourages Language Development
Children respond to music and it is never too early to incorporate music into your child’s life. Some people even play music to a baby in-utero and notice a reaction from the unborn child. Pre-verbal babies often enjoy clapping along to music or nodding their heads to the rhythm. Music classes for a toddler can help encourage language development, which in turn will build confidence. Speech delays are a source of insecurity in young children that have difficulty forming words and sentences like their peers. Sometimes young children with speech delays are hesitant to talk because every word is a challenge. Music provides a fun and unintimidating way for them to improve their vocabulary and frequency.
Music Builds Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Children that are able to run around and interact with other children are more likely to be healthy and confident. Many instruments require the development of special skills, such as gross motor, fine motor, and hand eye coordination that may likely translate into higher performance in school, and on the athletic fields.
Music Helps Develop Discipline and Independence
Children gain confidence when they learn how to do things for themselves, therefore a helpless child is rarely a confident one. To be successful in learning an instrument or improving music skills of any sort, a certain amount of discipline is required. Older children can be encouraged to take responsibility for practicing independently and reaping the benefits of their discipline when they improve.
Music Can Improve Social Skills and Team Building
Group music classes can provide a great opportunity for friendships to form, and teambuilding skills to develop. Performing with a band or ensemble highlights the importance of striving for personal excellence for the benefit of a group. Even private lessons can help improve social skills. It is important for confident kids to be able to receive constructive criticism and learn from it. Recitals and music competitions are a wonderful opportunity for children to learn to present themselves in a confident way in a public setting.
Music has many benefits, ranging from academic to social to developmental. In addition to being a great way to grow and gain confidence, most kids find music to be fun. The information for this article was provided by professionals who provide an online masters in music education.