How to Train Baby’s Brain for Reading

What if there is something natural that could enable every child’s brain for reading before they start school?

What if babies love it?

What if it’s free?

 It’s all that and more…it’s singing!

Did You Know?

  • Singing and music-making activate more areas of the brain than any other singular activity.
  • Sound processing is the key to language and literacy, and singing is a highly effective way of developing it.
  • Singing and music-making develop the brain’s ability to process sound, remember what is heard, and keep a steady beat—all necessary cognitive skills for proficient reading.
  • If a child cannot keep a steady beat, they will likely struggle with reading.

Sound processing begins in the womb when a four-month-old fetus starts to hear. Recent research has found that babies actually prefer singing over speaking. Listening to songs is a way for babies to learn words and meanings. Babies who are sung to develop better speech processing and acquire language earlier. Toddlers who are rocked and bounced to a steady beat develop beat synchronization—children who cannot keep a steady beat will likely struggle with reading. Finally, children who can hear differences in sound and speak with expression will have better reading comprehension.

Sound processing is a missing link to literacy. Unfortunately, natural activities that develop it, such as hand-clapping games and jumping rope, have disappeared from many homes, playgrounds and classrooms. It’s time to bring them back!

Sing Your Day Away!

If you are uncomfortable singing, get over it! Babies don’t care how you sound. Research has found they actually prefer a mother’s singing over her speaking. You are your children’s rock star!

  • Make up rhymes, such as, “Tickle you, tickle you, coo, coo, coo!”
  • Use a sing-songy voice to talk with baby.
  • Chant nursery rhymes and sing folk songs to babies while rocking or bouncing them gently to the beat.
  • Have children keep the beat while they sing.
  • Sing “yoo hoo” and have them echo it back.
  • Download a free metronome app and have your child match the beat you choose by patting it with two hands on their laps.
  • Download a free pitch pipe app and have your child try to match different pitches with “loo” or “ooh.”
  • Sing-read folk song picture books.
  • Enroll babies and toddlers in early childhood music classes, such as Music Together, Kindermusik, and Musikgarten.

“Fit by Five!”

By age five, children should be musically “fit.” This means that they can keep a steady beat with two hands on their laps as they sing a song, such as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” and clap the rhythm of a song—each syllable of every word. They can match their voice to a pitch sung by a voice or played on an instrument or pitch pipe app. Young children can learn to sing in-tune within their vocal range—middle C-up.

It’s natural, easy, and fun! And, it will train your child’s brain for language and reading way before they start school.

Resources

The Rock ‘n’ Read Project

Center for Lifelong Music Making

Singing strategies

Folk song picture books

Basic Musical Fitness Assessment

Music-making and the brain neuroscience

Music for Every Child: A Special Report for Parents, Educators, Community Organizers, Policy-Makers and Citizens of the World.


Ann C. Kay is the Co-Founder & Education Coordinator of The Rock ‘n’ Read Project

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