The first three years of a child's life are the most critical in the development of language skills. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, "these skills appear to develop best in a world that is rich with sounds, sights, and consistent exposure to the speech and language of others."
Ann Gadzikowsk of the Chicago Children's Museum states that children's developing brains benefit from full stimulation when singing as it engages both the left and right sides of the brain. Research about the brain shows that music and singing activates activity that stimulates new learning and helps in memory processes. Singing and music encourage the use of many senses, and this also helps in learning and developing language skills.
Another benefit of music in a child's development is the repetition that children's songs offer. The melodic repetition helps children remember vocabulary words and basic parts of speech. According to director Sally Goddard Blythe of the Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology, "putting words to music breaks them down into syllables, emphasises key consonants and slows down the sounds of speech."
Language and music have similar rhythmic flows, with beats, tempos and inflections. Rhythmic music can be helpful in learning parts of speech and language; clapping, tapping and beats are often utilized to help children remember words and songs.
Learning may be easier for toddlers if it is approached in a fun manner. Music and songs should be incorporated when teaching children new words and other language skills. According to Irene Zundel, "studies have shown that exposing children to music from an early age can help them learn more and remember what they learn. It also boosts speech and language abilities and improves their coordination. Music can even increase social skills and reduce stress."