At Song of the Heart we are ALL about whole child development and are passionate about how music enhances optimal growth for children. One of the domains of development is language.
Music is closely linked with language in the early stages of a child’s life. From the rhythmic patterns to the lyrics of folk songs, music offers a unique and powerful tool for enhancing language skills, particularly vocabulary acquisition. Our Kindermusik classes naturally foster the relationship between music and language and provide a wonderful environment for building a child’s vocabulary while engaging in joyful musical play with a caregiver.
The Connection Between Music and Language Development
Music and language share a lot of fundamental characteristics. Both rely on patterns, structure, and rhythm. When children listen to songs, they are exposed to repetitive sounds and phrases, which helps them recognize and internalize new words.
Music also helps in the development of phonemic awareness—the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate sounds. Singing songs, particularly those with rhyming words, improves children’s ability to distinguish between different sounds, which is essential for later reading and writing skills.
The melody and rhythm in songs act as a brain hack by making it easier for children to remember new words and phrases. It’s why setting information to music is such a powerful mnemonic device, because music creates additional pathways in the brain.
How Songs Help Expand Vocabulary
Songs expose children to new words in a fun and engaging way. Through repeated listening and singing, children learn the meanings of words and practice pronouncing them. The playful nature of songs also makes it easier for young children to experiment with language and express themselves.
Kindermusik curriculum is filled with folk songs, the lyrics of which have been passed down through generations and are filled with rich language, storytelling, and vivid imagery. For example,
- “The More We Get Together”
This classic song emphasizes social interaction and introduces children to a range of words associated with togetherness, friendship, and community. By singing along, children practice new words like “together,” “friends,” and “happy,” while also reinforcing the concept of social connection. - “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
This well-loved song encourages children to practice both language and physical actions. It teaches words related to emotions (like “happy,” “sad,” and “angry”) and actions (such as “clap,” “stomp,” and “shout”). Through the song’s repetition and interactive movements, children engage both their vocabulary and motor skills - “The Wheels on the Bus”
This classic children’s song introduces words related to transportation and movement. From “wheels” and “doors” to “wipers” and “horns,” this song helps children build vocabulary related to daily life, while also teaching them a sequence of events. - “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”
One of the most popular folk songs for children, “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” exposes children to a wide range of animal names, sounds, and actions. Each verse introduces new animals, making it a great way to learn words for various creatures and the noises they make. Practicing those noises help a child develop mastery over all sorts of phonemes that are part of language.
The Power of Repetition and Active Participation
What makes these songs so effective for vocabulary building is not just the words themselves but the repetition and active participation they encourage. When children sing the same song multiple times, they have the opportunity to absorb and internalize the words in a way that is natural and engaging. Active participation, whether through clapping, moving, or mimicking animal sounds, helps reinforce the meaning of the words.
The Kindermusik app contains a large collection of familiar songs that you can stream in the car, or have an impromptu home sing-a-long. We hope you use this resource outside of class to keep the musical fun and language learning going at home.
