The time has come. Whether you play backup bass for your local band just for fun or you specialize in the triangle – you are now your neighborhood’s hottest new singer on the block. Doing this for your baby will ultimately bring you closer to them, as well as calm everyone in the room. This will be to everyone’s benefit. We wouldn’t suggest doing this all day, every day, as everyone loves a healthy dose of silence, but it’s safe to say that a few times a week, or even as a night or nap time routine, would work quite well.
Singing is Bonding
“When you sing to your baby, they bond with you and your voice. Singing makes yours the first and most important voice in her life. Your baby learns that you love him! A song for waking up, sleeping, and other routine transitions and activities helps them know what comes next.” says the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
It’s pivotal to key-in to all the reasons why singing can be that easy, free, natural and beautiful way to create a safe space between you, your child and your entire family. NAEYC continues with:
“Transitions – Babies feel safe when life is predictable. A song for waking up, sleeping, and other routine transitions and activities helps them know what comes next. Language – Language is in itself musical, and when you sing and speak, your baby learns about words, language, and communication. Through your singing, baby’s language comprehension begins. New words – While you sing and hold your baby, you introduce new vocabulary. When you hold up a stuffed dog as you sing about a dog, baby learns to associate the name of that toy with the words you sing. When you sing about parts of the body and kiss your baby’s feet or tickle his tummy, he learns new words. Rhythm and rhyme – Music includes rhythm and rhyme, again, part of our language. In time, babies will recognize rhymes and rhythms.”
But I Can’t Sing
Now, if you aren’t a singer or don’t even know where to start, give yourself a moment to think of a song that you’ve really loved to sing all of your life. To keep things simple at the start, perhaps choose a calm and soothing song. A classic like “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” is a great song for getting ready for sleep. Let us not forget though, singing with your children doesn’t have to be all about sleep and soothing. Music is a great way to bond with all the members of the household, or even your guests! Music can be a fun, safe way to celebrate for all ages and it can really lift the spirits of everyone all at once! This is a beautiful thing to embrace. So, we suggest trying to not be so shy and if you aren’t a singer, just start small.
An element that may be worth mentioning is being aware of both your tone and volume while singing to your child. You must consider how much more sensitive to sound your small one is and take this into account. In terms of tone, it may be best to take the pedal of the gas on this one. The more soothing, the better, in our opinion. It may be best to save thrashing metal and too hyped up beats for those toddler years.
If you’re really feeling ambitious, you can write your own melodies as you hum to your newborn. You may be amazed at how quickly they are lulled to sleep. This will be a wonderful exercise for your mind at the same time! Enjoy these special moments. This is a wonderful way to create lasting memories for you, your family, your friends and the world around you. Music is a gift that we can share with one another. Simply introducing a piece of art to one another is a gift in itself.
