Language development with the Magic of Music

As a speech-language pathologist, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible power of language development with music! It’s more than just a joyful sound; it’s a bridge to communication, a playful pathway to language. And honestly, it’s one of my absolute favorite tools to share with parents.

Think about it: have you ever sung a song and noticed how easily the words stick in your mind? That’s the magic we’re tapping into. Music makes language memorable, engaging, and downright fun for our little ones. But why is it so effective?

Why Music Matters for Language Development

Why does music matter so much for language development? First, it’s all about rhythm and repetition. Those catchy tunes and repeated phrases? They’re like little language building blocks, helping children learn and remember new words. Music also sharpens their sound awareness, which is vital for understanding and producing speech. They start to distinguish between different pitches, tones, and rhythms – it’s like training their ears for language!

And of course, music is a fantastic way to build vocabulary. Songs are filled with words and concepts, from colors and animals to numbers and actions. Plus, the storytelling aspect of many songs helps children develop their memory and understand how things relate to each other. But perhaps most importantly, music creates an emotional connection. When you sing and dance with your child, you’re creating a joyful, shared experience that makes learning feel like play.

Now, you might be thinking, “That sounds great, but how do I actually do this at home?” Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Let’s explore some simple, fun musical activities you can easily incorporate into your daily routines.

Simple Activities to Try at Home for Language Development with Music:

1. Sing Simple Songs: Classic nursery rhymes like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” “Wheels on the Bus,” or “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes,” are great songs to sing with your child and this is not just because they’re catchy. It’s because they’re built on principles that align perfectly with how young children learn language:

• Repetitive Structure:
  • These songs are designed with repetitive phrases and verses. This repetition is important for toddlers. Their brains thrive on predictability. Hearing the same words and phrases over and over again helps them solidify those sounds and meanings.
  • Example: In “Wheels on the Bus,” the phrase “the wheels on the bus go round and round” is repeated multiple times, reinforcing the concept of circular motion and the word “round.”
• Simple Vocabulary:
  • Nursery rhymes typically use basic, everyday vocabulary that toddlers are already familiar with or are in the process of learning. Words like “star,” “wheels,” “head,” and “toes” are concrete and easily understood.
  • This avoids overwhelming the child with complex vocabulary they aren’t prepared to understand.
• Clear and Predictable Rhythm and Melody:
  • The simple melodies and rhythms of these songs make them easy for children to follow and remember. The predictable patterns help them anticipate what comes next, which reinforces their understanding of language structure.
  • The sing song nature of the rhymes also helps to break down the sounds of the words, which helps with phonological awareness, which is a pre-reading skill.
• Action and Movement Integration:
  • Many classic rhymes are easily paired with actions and gestures. “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” is a perfect example. Physical movement reinforces the meaning of the words and makes the learning process more engaging and multisensory.
  • The movement also helps children to keep their attention on the activity.
• Cultural Familiarity:
  • These songs have been passed down through generations, creating a shared cultural experience. This familiarity can create a sense of comfort and connection for children.
• Short and Engaging:
  • Toddlers have short attention spans. Nursery rhymes are typically short and concise, making them ideal for keeping their attention.

Practical Tips for Using Simple Songs:

• Exaggerate Your Pronunciation: When singing, clearly enunciate each word. This helps children distinguish between different sounds.
• Use Gestures and Actions: Pair the song with relevant gestures and actions to reinforce the meaning of the words.
• Sing Slowly and Clearly: Don’t rush through the song. Give your child time to process the words and sounds.
• Make it Interactive: Encourage your child to sing along, even if they only repeat a few words.
• Sing Frequently: Incorporate these songs into your daily routines. Sing during playtime, bath time, or bedtime.
• Use Props: If possible, use props to enhance the experience. For example, use a toy bus while singing “Wheels on the Bus.”
• Have Fun! The most important thing is to create a positive and enjoyable experience for your child.

• Example Script:
  • “Let’s sing ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes!’ Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes! (Point to each body part as you sing.) Your turn! Can you touch your head?” 

2. Make Music with Instruments:

•  Let’s get those creative juices flowing with homemade instruments. Grab some empty plastic bottles and fill them with rice or beans to make shakers. Or turn a metal can into a drum! As your child explores these instruments, narrate their actions. “Listen to the shaker! Shhh, shhh, shhh!” Label the instruments, describe the sounds, and encourage them to imitate rhythms. It’s a wonderful way to build vocabulary and sound awareness.
  • Musical Instruments

1. Shakers (Maracas):

• Materials:
  1. Empty plastic bottles or containers (small water bottles, yogurt cups)
  2. Dried beans, rice, lentils, or popcorn kernels
  3. Tape (decorative tape or masking tape)
  4. Optional: Stickers, markers, or other decorations
• Steps:
  1. Prepare the containers:  Clean and dry the plastic bottles or containers.
  2. Fill the containers: Help your child pour a small amount of dried beans or rice into the container. Experiment with different amounts and fillers to create varying sounds.
  3. Secure the lids: Tightly close the lids of the containers. Use tape to secure the lids further, preventing spills.
  4. Decorate: Let your child decorate the shakers with stickers, markers, or tape.
  5. Shake and play: Encourage your child to shake the shakers and explore the different sounds they make.

2. Drum:

• Materials:
  1. Empty metal cans (coffee cans, oatmeal containers) or sturdy plastic containers
  2. Wooden spoons or plastic utensils
  3. Optional: Balloons, rubber bands, decorative paper, or markers
• Steps:
  1. Prepare the container: Ensure the can or container is clean and dry.
  2. Create a drumhead (optional):
     • For a tighter drum sound, you can stretch a balloon over the top of the container and secure it with a rubber band.
  3. Decorate: Let your child decorate the drum with decorative paper or markers.
  4. Play the drum: Give your child a wooden spoon or plastic utensil to use as a drumstick.
  5. Explore rhythms: Encourage your child to tap the drum and experiment with different rhythms.

3. Ribbon Wands:

• Materials:
  1. Wooden dowels, popsicle sticks, or straws
  2. Colorful ribbons or fabric strips
  3. Tape or glue
  4. Optional: bells.
• Steps:
  1. Prepare the handle: If using wooden dowels, make sure they are smooth and splinter-free.
  2. Attach the ribbons: Cut ribbons or fabric strips into various lengths. Attach them to one end of the handle using tape or glue. If you have bells, you can also attach a few small bells to the ribbons.
  3. Wave and dance: Encourage your child to wave the ribbon wands and dance to music.
  4. Sound and motion: the optional bells will add an extra sound element to the motion of the wands.

Other ideas with musical instruments: 

• • Play different rhythms and encourage your child to imitate them.
    • Parent: (Tapping a steady beat on the drum) “Listen. Tap, tap, tap. Can you tap like this?” (Pause, allowing the child to try.) “Yes! Tap, tap, tap! Good job!”
    • Parent: (Changing to a faster rhythm) “Now, listen. Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap! Fast! Can you tap fast?” (Pause) “Wow, you’re tapping so fast!”
    • Parent: (Switching to a slow, drawn-out rhythm) “Now, slow. Tap… tap… tap… slow. Can you do it slow?” (Pause) “Very slow! You’re a great drummer!”
  • Label the instruments and describe the sounds they make.

• Script Example One: Simple Language

• • • Parent: (Holding up a shaker) “This is a shaker. Say ‘shaker.’ Shaker!”
    • Parent: (Shaking the shaker) “Listen! It makes a ‘shhh’ sound. Shhh, shhh, shhh. The shaker makes a ‘shhh’ sound.”
    • Parent: (Picking up a drum) “This is a drum. Say ‘drum.’ Drum!”
    • Parent: (Tapping the drum) “Listen! It makes a ‘bang’ sound. Bang, bang, bang! The drum makes a ‘bang’ sound.”
    • Parent: (Waving a ribbon wand with bells) “This is a ribbon wand. It has ribbons, and bells! Listen to the bells! They go ‘jingle, jingle!'”
  • Script Example Two: Adding Descriptive Adjectives
  • Parent: (Shaking a shaker with rice) “This shaker makes a soft sound. Listen, it’s a soft shhh.”
  • Parent: (Shaking a shaker with beans) “This shaker makes a loud sound! Listen, it’s a loud shhh!”
  • Parent: (Tapping the drum lightly) “This is a quiet drum. Tap, tap, tap. It’s a quiet bang.”
  • Parent: (Tapping the drum forcefully) “This is a loud drum! BANG! It’s a loud bang!”
  • Parent:(Waving the ribbon wands) “These bells are tiny, and they make a high jingle!”

3. Dance and Move to Music:

• Don’t forget the power of movement! Put on some music and dance together. Label the movements – “Jump, jump, jump!” or “Turn, turn, turn!” – and encourage your child to move their body in different ways. It connects movement with language and reinforces action words.
• Steps:
  • Choose songs with different tempos and styles.
  • Encourage your child to move their body in different ways.
  • Label the movements and actions.
• Why it helps: Connects movement with language and reinforces action words.

4. Making Up Your Own Story Songs:

• • Start with Simple Stories:
    • Begin with familiar scenarios, like going to the park, visiting the zoo, or having a bath.
    • Use simple, repetitive phrases and a catchy melody.
    • Example: a song about going to the park.
      • “We’re going to the park today,
      • We’re going to the park today,
      • We’ll swing up high, and slide down low,
      • We’re going to the park today!”
  • Use Your Child’s Interests:
    • Incorporate your child’s favorite toys, characters, or activities into your songs.
    • This will make the songs more engaging and relevant to them.
    • Example: If your child loves their toy car.
      • “My little car goes zoom, zoom, zoom,
      • Around the room, zoom, zoom, zoom,
      • It goes so fast, it goes so far,
      • My little car, my shining star!”
  • Add Actions and Sounds:
    • Use gestures, sound effects, and different voices to bring your stories to life.
    • This will make the songs more interactive and engaging.
    • Example: a song about a dog.
      • “The puppy wags his tail, (wag your hand)
      • He barks a happy sound, (make barking sounds)
      • He runs around the yard all day, (pretend to run in place)
      • He’s the happiest dog around!”
  • Involve Your Child:
    • Ask your child to contribute ideas for the story, characters, or actions.
    • Let them help you create the melody or rhythm.
    • This will make them feel more invested in the song and encourage their creativity.
    • Example: Ask “Where should the bear go today?” or “What kind of animal should we sing about?”
  • Use Puppets or Toys:
    • Using puppets or toys to act out the song creates a visual element that helps with comprehension.
    • Example: When singing a song about farm animals, use toy farm animals to act out the song.
  • Pause and Ask Questions:
    • During the song, pause to ask questions about what is happening or what might happen next.
    • This will encourage your child to think critically and use their imagination.
    • Example: “The bear went into the woods, what do you think he will find?”

• Example Script:

• Parent: “Let’s sing a song about a little bird!”
• (Singing to a simple, gentle melody)
  • “Little bird, little bird, in the nest so high,
  • Little bird, little bird, you want to try to fly.
  • You flap your wings, flap, flap, flap,
  • You jump up high, with a little tap.
  • Little bird, little bird, you’re in the air so free,
  • Little bird, little bird, you learned to fly, you see!”
  • Parent: (Pause) “What did the little bird do first?”
  • Child: “Flap wings!”
  • Parent: “Yes! He flapped his wings! And then what happened?”
  • Child: “Fly!”
  • Parent: “That’s right! He learned to fly! Let’s sing it again!”

• Why it helps: Develops comprehension and storytelling skills.  

5. Sing During Daily Routines:

• Let’s weave music into your daily routines. Turn bath time, mealtime, or bedtime into musical moments. Make up silly songs about what you’re doing, or sing familiar tunes with new lyrics. It makes everyday activities more engaging and reinforces vocabulary related to daily life.
• Steps:
  • Make up silly songs about bath time, mealtime, or bedtime.
  • Use familiar tunes and change the lyrics to fit the activity.
  • Example Script:
    • (During bath time, singing to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”) “Wash your hands, wash your toes, wash your face, and wash your nose! Splish, splash, in the tub!”  
• Why it helps: Makes routines more engaging and reinforces vocabulary related to daily activities.

Ditch the rigid drills and embrace the natural rhythm of learning through music. By weaving songs, rhythms, and instrument play into your daily life, you’re not only creating a joyful, language-rich environment, but also laying the groundwork for your child’s long-term success. The shared laughter and synchronized movements forge a powerful bond, while the exploration of sounds cultivates crucial auditory processing, memory, and cognitive flexibility. Music becomes a constant companion, fostering a love of learning and a sense of pattern that will serve them well beyond vocabulary acquisition. Let the melodies guide your interactions, nurturing both immediate communication skills and the holistic development that paves the way for a lifetime of confident expression. Now you have the skills to foster language development with music at home!

For more information check out these resource:

First Words Bright Futures Facebook Page

First Words Bright Futures Instagram Page

MDS: Boost Your Child’s Language Skills During Bath Time: Fun Tips for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers

MDS: Bedtime Language Tips for Kids

MDS: Labeling for Language: Easy Vocabulary-Building Activities for Toddlers to Early Elementary Kids

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and suggestions. It is not intended as a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment from a certified Speech-Language Pathologist. If you have specific concerns about your child’s speech development, please consult with a qualified professional in your area.