Music and Early Childhood Education

　　Studies have shown that there are far more benefits to immersing ourselves in music. In adults, the benefits range from a coping mechanism for pain (emotional and physical), to improved motor skills. These benefits also extend to young children as well, which makes it such a great idea for parents and teachers to incorporate music into their everyday routines.

　　According to the American Music Conference, research has revealed that learning about and creating music may help improve our overall learn abilities. It appears that thought patterns that come about when people create music it helps improve language learning, and math and social skills.
　　Classical Music Makes Kids Smarter
　　Known as the Mozart Effect, experts have found that when people listen to classical music, such as Mozarts piano sonatas, there were improved results on the Stanford-Binet IQ test by as much as eight to nine points.
　　The short-term benefit can be found in what is referred to as spatial-temporal reasoning, which is important for resolving problems in everything from engineering to art. A study from the University of Wisconsin's Department of Psychology found that this benefit held true for preschoolers who received musical training.
　　The brain-boosting benefits don�t stop there. When kids grow up listening and participating in music, they enjoy what they call a "rich sensory environment." Researchers believe this increases the neural connections between brain cells.
　　Here are some of the additional benefits that researchers have found when kids are actively involved in music:
　　- Preschoolers perform better in reading and math when they begin school
　　- They are better at focusing
　　- They play better with other children and have higher a self-esteem
　　The great thing about music is that the love for it is ingrained in nearly every human being pretty much from birth. Of course, everyone's interest level varies, but this fact makes it an easier learning tool to use. Here are a few simple tips for using music as a learning tool:
　　Buy your child musical instruments. They don't have to be the more expensive variety, consider a ukulele, tambourine, or conga drum, all of which are very affordable on any budget.
　　Play music in the car with your children and have a sing-a-long.
　　Take your children to age-appropriate musical events. Libraries and bookstores often host childrens musical shows
　　While special methods may be needed to get children interested and attentive to other subject matters, music takes little effort to get their attention. It gives parents and teachers the perfect opportunity to accelerate a child's educational and social development.