How Music Can Improve Your Kids' Literacy Skills

As a parent, you're fully invested in helping your kids learn and develop their skills in all areas, especially with regard to literacy. Reading well is critical to their success, yet sometimes you may get frustrated, particularly if your kids are reluctant readers or not putting in the effort they should. You may be surprised to learn that you can use music to improve your kids' literacy skills. Read on to learn how this works.

Benefits of Music for Literacy

You might be wondering what music has to do with literacy and how it can help. For one thing, kids who learn music also learn how to focus. Their attention span increases as they practice reading notes and translating them into songs. Even just listening to music with attention to the various instruments, melodies, and rhythms can improve concentration.

Also, kids who aren't especially interested in their schoolwork may be very interested in their music. Their motivation to learn and study grows as they enjoy their lessons, and it can certainly transfer into other areas of their lives. They develop the discipline that they can use to improve other subjects, especially reading.

Further, studying music helps develop kids' brains. They boost their memories as they learn their notes, fingerings, and songs. You may even encourage them to memorize music for recitals. Music helps children build their phonological (sound) awareness and vocabulary as well, both of which can contribute to reading fluency.

What's more, kids often have no idea they're learning so much when they practice their music because they're having fun. They love to play or sing (as long as it doesn't become a chore), and they enjoy listening to music. In most cases, they have no idea that you're craftily helping them build skills at the same time.

Ways to Incorporate Music

Incorporating music into your children's literacy education can happen directly and indirectly. As one idea, you can introduce singing into your kids' reading lessons. Print out lyrics for some of their favorite songs, and sing them together. Then go back through the words, looking closely at their meanings and discussing their sounds. Focus on why the words say what they do, and discuss any figurative language. Your kids will be interested and engaged, and their reading and comprehension will improve.

More indirectly, you might sign your kids up for vocal or instrumental music lessons so they can enjoy all the benefits mentioned above. Your kids will learn music theory and performance skills. You can also visit inTemenos for tools, musical instruments, and toys that can help your child start learning about music immediately.

Design a Music Room

If you're looking to create a space for your child to explore their musical side, think about the type of instruments your child will be playing. You'll need to make sure there's enough space for larger instruments, like a piano or drums, as well as storage for smaller items like music sheets and lyric books. Don't forget to add some personal touches - pictures of musical icons, fun lights, and comfortable seating will help inspire creativity and make the space feel like home. When designing your music room, keep track of the improvements you make by keeping receipts for any work done. Certain upgrades may boost your home’s value if you ever decide to sell.

Importance of Quality Time

Finally, don't neglect the importance of spending quality time with your kids to help them grow in their reading and their music. No matter how busy your schedule is, make room in it for your children. You might plan a bedtime story and song several nights a week, for example, or a reading and/or music session during the day. You'll all enjoy it.

Musical Learning

Music and literacy go hand-in-hand, so make sure your kids learn to love music and reading and reap the benefits.

(By Ashley Taylor)