Musical awakening: your baby may have tempo in their blood?!
If you're a regular reader of "The Parents' Blog," you know that early childhood development is a bit of a passion of ours. All five senses, yes indeed! And not just taste. So, today we've decided to explore the world of sound for our budding little musicians. Let the music begin!
The incredible musical adventure begins in mom's womb
If you listened to Instant Crush on repeat while you were pregnant, your mini-me is very likely to become a Daft Punk fan before they can even talk. Fact or fiction?
Well, without resorting to caricature, know that everything your baby hears (even in utero!) will gradually shape their musical ear. As soon as your fetus's auditory system is formed, sound vibrations (voices, music, various sounds) become perceptible to your child. So much so that expectant mothers are often advised to sing, talk, or even hum nursery rhymes. At Good Goût, we believe in varying the references and the pleasures by alternating between "Gentille Alouette" and "J'adoooooooore regarder danser les gens"... without forgetting to start talking to them about their lifelong friends: fruits and vegetables! Here's our selection of little vegetable rhymes .
Much more than the sound of happiness!
Diva voice or twangy voice, it doesn't matter! What counts is to sing, sing, sing (and sing some more).
In "gentle lullaby" mode, your baby will experience relaxation, calmness, and well-being. In short, it's perfect before bedtime, but also throughout the day to reassure them with your familiar voice. Indeed, for a baby, simply hearing their mother's voice humming a lullaby, or their father's softly whispering words of love, calms and reassures them. No need to overthink it: More than recorded music or elaborate instruments, the human voice is what young children find most appealing.
The cherry on top: in addition to amusing and comforting him, musical moments can serve as time markers (e.g., a nursery rhyme about bath time before going to the bath...).
Furthermore, beyond this special bond with the child, the discovery of different sounds allows the newborn to develop key sensory and emotional skills.
But it doesn't stop there! A child who has been in contact with music, and therefore stimulated by it during their early childhood, will find it easier to adapt to their environment when they start school, since their listening, concentration and curiosity will have been engaged.
Patience, it's growing!
The great adventure can begin right from birth with musical mobiles. Around 6 months, your baby can embark on the exciting experience of rattles, music boxes, or even playtables for the more adventurous.
Your child will quickly discover that they can make "sounds" with everyday objects. A small saucepan, a piece of paper, a plastic bottle, a wooden spoon, a set of keys, even their own mouth... They will experiment with these in different ways to discover the sounds they can produce. This is part of their first musical explorations. You can therefore provide a few everyday objects (though perhaps avoid using electric epilators or glass recycling bins). This will help them understand that "when I do this, I hear this sound!"
Then, at the age of one, your child begins a more intense phase of sound exploration. Now independent, it's time for them to experience walkers and other musical pull toys that will allow them to combine motor skills with sound discovery. Consider the xylophone, whose popularity is countless and which, despite the years, remains timeless. Let's not forget the ever-popular maracas and rainsticks brought back by Grandma from one of her trips to the other side of the world.
From the age of three, your little one is ready to take the next step: musical awakening (sound explorations, first musical pleasures, singing, discovering many instruments from around the world, collaborative creations...). This activity, which allows the child to acquire auditory reference points and the coordination of their movements, is truly wonderful.
Finally, at the age of 6-7, the big step is taken by choosing the first instrument: a new horizon opens up to him...
A note to parents whose ears are sensitive (not to say irritated) to the slightest electronic sound coming from a plastic mixing console for mini-DJs: hide the object of your nightmares while you introduce your child to the instruments you cherish more. For example, wooden objects, in various sizes and for different uses, create more natural and pleasant sounds.
Musical awakening as a family?
The experience of discovering sounds can also be enjoyed with the whole family together! Sound books, for example, are a way to accompany your little one in these first sound discoveries by involving all family members.
We have selected a few for you: Pomme de reinette et pomme d'Api published by Gründ, Les instruments du monde chez Mes petits imagiers or L'orchestre de l'édition Larousse.
Another fun and family-friendly option is the Philharmonie de Paris . They offer family music workshops for children as young as three months. These activities aim to encourage interaction among family members through diverse musical activities and exhibitions – in short, an opportunity not to be missed!
