Music is something that just touches human beings in total. By and large, there is no music that belongs to any sort of race, creed or culture. This is the sort of stuff that floats around in the air, and anyone can enjoy it, or they can make it if they want to. Music is such a rigid discipline in so many ways as well. This is why parents are always trying to get their kids involved in music. It’s a wholesome activity in which they can participate that’s really teaching them a lot about life and is also helping them hone a talent that may pay off for them later on in life. There are currently millions of parents out there who have their children learning piano, violin, the flute, guitar, etc.
Some parents try to teach their children these sorts of musical instruments as young as daycare. The working theory here among parents being that the earlier they get their child involved in music like this, the better off they’re going to be. They’re also hoping that music helps them stay calm and polite and makes them willing to learn. Plus, there’s also the fact that music is a much better influence on children than today’s media and video games, etc. But is the best age to teach music to kids?
Ages 3 to 8 are Ideal
The ideal age range to start teaching is around three-eight. On the low-end, three is good because, at this stage as a toddler, children are really taking serious control over their motor skills, developing these voluntary skills well. 8, on the older end of the spectrum, is when your child really starts to understand the world around them and develops consequential thinking, as in, “Oh, okay, I’m learning this music to get good at music.” Any age past 3 is a great time, and it’s never too late to start, but here’s why this range, in particular, is ideal.
Why Early-Age Development is Beneficial
Voluntary Motor Skills
As a parent, you may have noticed that it’s like your child went from their first steps to running away from you at superhero speeds in the blink of an eye. This is because children pretty much master these voluntary skills in a short time. Picking a guitar or playing the piano, etc., is also a voluntary skill. Imagine honing this along with their others at a young age, perhaps even starting in daycare, and just think about how good they can be on an instrument by the time they’re teenagers. They can be masters.
Creating a Habit
Children are always going to develop habits. It’s basically inevitable. Fidgeting with something, carrying a blanket, sucking their thumb, and many more habits can develop. Children who learn music at a very young age tend to develop habits that have them turning back to their instruments in their free time. It becomes something of a habit, something they really want to do, and thus they’re able to get very good at it.
Forming a Hobby
Now that you’ve already created a habit, you can also form a hobby. This is something else that most kids will develop. Some of them watch cartoons, play video games, go outside and play with friends. No one is suggesting you take those things away and replace them. Letting your children actually be children is the healthiest thing you can do for them. However, integrating this music and assisting them at developing practice as a sort of hobby, and not a chore, is something that can really help them develop when they’re young, not to mention that it’s a wholesome, safe and productive hobby for them.
Most parents don’t have dreams that they attempt to live out vicariously through their children by teaching them music. It’s more to do with wanting to help their children develop smart and safe, and productive habits. Musical instruments are a great way to really help children develop, and the good news is that you can start teaching them fairly young. Just make sure that you’re working with the child and encouraging the discipline, not forcing it, and they should pick it up rather well.
