Babies love music, and colorful toys excite them so much that they visibly express their delight. So a musical toy that combines both keeps them actively engaged for hours. Now, that it has been scientifically established that music develops their memory, speech and even mathematical skills, mothers introduce babies to music right from their pregnancy itself. After the birth parents start getting them musical toys like the rattle, musical mobiles and the like to develop their taste for music. Singing lullabies to help them sleep has been an age old practice. Now technology has developed to bring out amazing toys, and guess what, they are award winning too.
Music makes babies smarter:
Apart from entertainment, music has a therapeutic effect. You like to listen to music for relaxation and sleep. In fact listening to music starts right from pregnancy when it has a positive effect on the growth of the fetus. Extensive research has proven that music makes the heart stronger and improves memory, language and speech skills.The Utah Valley Medical Center in Provo subjected a batch of forty infants to music and found that it improves the weight of the babies, the heart beat of the babies was found to be stronger and the blood pressure lower compared to babies who didn’t.
It also opens up channels for learning. This is called the Mozart Effect. At the Northwestern University researchers found that new neural connections develop in the brain improving the baby’s attentivity and IQ. If something as pleasant as music can improve the brain’s activity, every mother will definitely use it to make her baby smarter. Besides music is known to have a special bonding effect on its listeners and there could be no better reason than this for the mother and infant.
Babies also become actively interested in listening to music. Just play music and they start shaking their fists and legs which is like a demo in aerobics. If the mother joins, there could be no better fun filled activity which stimulates the brain as well as the limbs. This brings better coordination of the hands, legs and even the facial muscles as the baby smiles and tries to dance. Singing also seems to improve the vocal development which stimulates early speech capabilities.
Music that’s good for babies:
Music needs to be introduced to the baby as early and as frequently as possible. Making music a habit also develops musical skills early. You will notice them identifying different tunes. The type of music your baby listens to is very important. Classical tunes seem to work better for the psyche of the baby. Listening to Hard Rock and Rap actually changes the structure of the brain says Dr.Pratt. Generally any music with melody is good. Follow the baby’s cue and encourage his/her likes and dislikes. That will certainly help the baby develop a fine taste in music. Play music with a slow beat for sleep, and a faster one during the day. Singing to them also helps them to recognize voice modulation which they try to imitate.
Making music a part of baby’s life:
As more and more parents show their preference for musical toys, many types have flooded the market. Babies can listen to different types of music from musical toys to end the day. To start the day cute stuffed animals that sing nursery rhymes like Twinkle Twinkle little star never fail to rouse the baby. Babies learn to identify tunes and would love to get up to it.
The Mozart Magic Music Cube actually plays tunes from Mozart with different instruments. A multi award winner from Embryonics and Munchkin Inc. this colorful toy will surely sharpen an infants creativity because with the press of a button the instrument can change from a violin to a flute or a piano. So the baby can create his/her own music with different combinations. The Music Blocks that won the Oppenheimer Platinum Award have button like blocks which when pressed light up and play Rhythmic African tunes with zinging drums.
All you need is a pair of drums for the baby to actively participate in a baby’s aerobic session or calm down the baby with a Mozart piece. A Musical Mobile with soft swirling lights can be hung over the crib. The lullabies that the mobile produces can make the baby sleep like an angel. So the baby’s day is spent with music played from a variety of amazing toys that discreetly build smarter kids of the future.
