Harvard Growth Program - Early Childhood Multiple Intelligence Training and Development (3-4 years old)

Author: Yuan Aimin / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features:
Parents Concerns Q: Can you talk about the benefits of teaching children to sing? A: Teaching children to sing has many benefits, and we will briefly introduce them below:
First, it can enhance children's intelligence and broaden their knowledge. The lyrics of children's songs are easy to understand, lively, and diverse. Some praise the motherland, some guide children to maintain hygiene, love labor, and be polite, while others teach scientific knowledge about nature, etc. Teaching children to sing and explaining the lyrics can not only help them learn to sing but also acquire various knowledge, achieving multiple benefits.
Second, singing can help prevent or correct some language defects in children, such as stuttering. In early childhood, the language center of the brain is not yet fully developed, and the connection between the brain, mouth, and vocal cords is not well-coordinated, making it easy for children to develop speech difficulties like stuttering or hesitation. If children sing more, it can strengthen the connection between the brain, mouth, and voice, preventing speech defects such as stuttering, hesitation, and other issues.
Third, singing can improve respiratory function, which is beneficial for children's health. Singing differs from speaking because it requires certain strength, especially in the chest. When the chest muscles are strengthened, lung capacity increases. A larger lung capacity enhances respiratory function, which is very beneficial for children. Therefore, learning to sing is an excellent way to improve respiratory function.
There are many other benefits of singing, such as aiding memory and cultivating emotional intelligence, etc. These will not be elaborated on here. In summary, teaching children to sing or encouraging them to sing is a very meaningful activity, and parents should strengthen training in this area.
Q: If children are not interested in singing, how can we cultivate their interest in singing? A: In fact, as long as parents are dedicated, they can cultivate their children's interest in singing. Below, we introduce several methods:
Create a good musical environment. In daily life, frequently play music or sing for your children. Let them listen, watch, and sing more, gradually (tòurónghé - nurtured) in a musical environment, and over time, they will develop an interest in singing.
Inspire and guide them in multiple ways. In daily life, parents should consciously guide children to observe and listen to various sounds and rhythms in their surroundings and encourage them to imitate, thereby sparking their interest in singing. Additionally, help children understand music. For example, when playing music or singing for them, you can appropriately explain the content of the music and even accompany simple, clear actions to help them understand musical imagery and cultivate their sense of appreciation.
Play musical games to enhance their interest. Choose lively and engaging songs, play them, and guide children to play games based on the song's content. Alternatively, use actions to inspire them to feel and express the emotions of musical works, which can also help improve their interest in singing.
Be patient and gradual, avoiding haste. Some adults set overly high expectations for their children, often imposing their own standards and forcing them to learn to sing. This not only fails to achieve positive results but may even push children further away from music. Therefore, parents should allow children to learn through play, promptly encouraging and praising them for even small progress, guiding them step by step to love music and singing.
P18-19