Early Childhood Educators can easily tell you about the benefits of music when working with young children. Music is for sure fun — but — it’s also so much more than singing, dancing and clapping! They know about this — not only from their work with children but from their studies in the field of early childhood education.

Yes, Early Childhood Educators have spent time studying about the benefits of music and they have also learned practical ways to put music into action when working with young children too.

Here are a few resource and textbooks that are used by Early Childhood Educators — both in their studies and in their work in early learning settings.

• Critical New Perspectives in Early Childhood Music: Young Children Engaging and Learning Through Music

• Music and Singing in the Early Years: A Guide to Singing with Young Children

• World Music Pedagogy, Volume I: Early Childhood Education (Routledge World Music Pedagogy Series)

More About the Benefits of Music

Did you know that music also benefits our health? Check out this article about how the Mathison Centre explores surprising role of music in self-care at the University of Calgary. And this article — Healthy Living: The sound of mental health — also profiles many of the benefits of music.

Music makes a difference in the lives of people of all ages.

Here are just a few examples of the benefits that music offers.

• It improves visual & verbal skills. Music is known for helping to keep the aging brain healthy.

• Listening to music can make you feel happier.

• In many cases it can help to shift your mood — calming or energizing you.

• It can even help to reduce your pulse rate & blood pressure!

• Listening to music can also improve your sleep quality and generally help you to relax during stressful moments.

• It’s also very effective at helping children and adults to focus. Check out the way this library program is incorporating music into it’s story time programming.

• With all of those positive things happening another fabulous benefit is that music can actually boost the immune system and help to reduce pain too.

• Music can even help to reduce depression and anxiety levels.

Wow!! Such an amazing array of benefits are to be had when we make sure music is part of our lives.

What music do you like to listen to — when you work, when you relax, when you dance, when you are cooking or when you are having fun with friends?

How does music make a difference in your life?