If you’re anything like me, you are probably a busy parent who is trying to do “all the things” for your child(ren) and family, but feel like you need about 24 extra hours in a day to get it all done. We live in a society where we are always on the go and the term “multitasking” is a skill we have learned quite well.
As you drive your child to and from school or other activities, why not use that time as an opportunity to enhance musical abilities and develop social skills? Parents in one study observed their children during commutes and reported that “young children interacted with music recordings of various genres in multiple ways (movement, singing along, imitating instruments). Also, children engaged in improvisatory music activities with siblings, on their own, or with a parent when audio recordings were not present.” (Koops, pg. 53)
The family vehicle can provide a mentally safe place in which a child can feel free to engage in musical play and begin to truly learn and trust their own voice. Without an audience of many peers or teachers, musical exploration often becomes more authentic. “Music is regularly a part of young children’s play. Spontaneous singing, sound exploration, and dance are often evident. Increasingly, researchers are recognizing the value of this musical play in the development of children’s musicality.” (Niland, pg. 18)
While you are busy racing from one place to another, turn on the radio and take joy in knowing that you are actively contributing to your child’s musical education and development…..even when you’re sitting at that obnoxiously long red light.
References and Resources
Niland, Amanda. “The Power of Musical Play: The Value of Play-Based, Child-Centered Curriculum in Early Childhood Music Education.” General Music Today 23, no. 1 (October 2009): 17–21.
Koops, Lisa Huisman. “Songs From the Car Seat: Exploring the Early Childhood Music-Making Place of the Family Vehicle.” Journal of Research in Music Education 62, no. 1 (April 2014)
Gina Mees is an elementary school music teacher in Sioux Falls and here is more about her.
I was born and raised in Huron, South Dakota and have lived in this great state for my entire life. As a toddler, I remember climbing up onto my mom’s lap as she was giving piano lessons from our home. Slightly annoyed that some of her students struggled to play every note correctly, I would often stretch my fingers out onto the keys and play the song how it should have been played. Playing piano “by ear” was a gift that I was given in the womb as my mom played piano and gave lessons. During my high school years, I was deeply involved in the orchestra as a violinist and choir and knew that I wanted to continue music into college. At the University of South Dakota, I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music Education and later earned a Master of Science degree in Technology for Teaching and Training.