'Keeping a beat! How dancing and enjoying music supports development'

The beat of a piece of music can be likened to a heartbeat, keeping time all the way from beginning to end. Marching around to the beat of music, feeling the rhythm as they go, has many benefits for children. Their body and mind are working together as your child stays aware of the beat and marches in time. 

Music is woven into the fabric of our lives. Listening, playing, dancing (things most of us enjoy all our lives) start here: marching or dancing around your home to the beat of a song. 

Listening to music is great just for its own sake – but there are other benefits too – here are just three: 

Helping your child develop listening skills 

They can practise giving their full attention to what they’re hearing, and this brings benefits in conversations as they learn to focus and chat with others.  

Talking about emotions and building vocabulary 

You can chat about how the music makes you feel, and introduce interesting vocabulary to describe the music using words like loud, quiet, scratchy, scary, happy... 

Developing confidence and enjoying making music  

Your child can learn to sing or play in time and in tune and have confidence in their growing musical abilities. 

So, pop on your favourite song, gather your family, get a march on and feel that beat.