If you’re like me, and most parents I know, you have an adorable video on your phone of your child dancing to music. It wasn’t something you taught them, or a moment you created. Instead, it was your child’s natural response to the rhythm and the way the music made her feel.

Any maybe you also have captured your child’s innate ability and desire to sing along with his favorite song. It’s the one you’ve played over and over in the car, or the popular song every child seems to know – Baby Shark, perhaps?

Singing, dancing, and responding to music are natural passions in a child’s heart and mind. But sometimes as adults, we forget how wonderful music can make us feel and how delightful it can be to just move to the rhythm, tap out a beat, sing along, and dance like nobody’s watching. And when we do these things with our kids, not only does everyone have fun, but we also decrease our stress levels and make magical memories with our kids. 

Music Education, then, is the perfect way to take what your child does naturally then learn, play, and enjoy the process. In fact, music education is a delightful way to get some wiggles out while building skills and having a ton of fun together all throughout your homeschool day.  In fact, it’s so natural and enjoyable, your child will barely know they’re learning.

Parents, even if you don’t think of yourself as musical, you can do musical activities with your kids every day throughout the day, while doing chores, while getting ready for school or even in the car – while you’re at it, they’ll grow developmentally AND get quality special time with mom and dad. 

As you connect with them through music, you’ll get to watch them develop and soak up the joys of rhythmic and melodic experimentation.

Simple Activities you can Start Right Away 

• Taking a dance break when everyone starts to get antsy. Just get everyone up and on their feet, turn on some music, and start moving
• Introducing your children to a variety of musical styles. Play simple rhyming children’s music, play your favorite tune from high school, play an opera piece, and then play a Broadway soundtrack. The more styles they hear, the more your children will connect with music
• Following the beat by playing a song with a clear beat and tapping it on your legs or clapping the beat with your hands

The Next Steps in Music Education

• Playing music that matches the mood you want in the moment (upbeat when you’re doing chores, calm at bedtime, etc)
• Singing a familiar song like “Old McDonald” and use a different movement each time: milk the cow, stomp mud off boots, pitch hay, pick beans, etc. Keep a steady beat with your movement to match the beat of the music as you sing. 
• Stopping a favorite song and having your child sing the next line.
• Making music with “instruments” around the house: shake a rattle, tap a beat on a pot, sway with a scarf, or sing into a pretend microphone
• Playing freeze dance – when the music stops, everybody freezes!

Maximizing the Benefits of Music Education

If you want to truly see your child take off with their homeschool music education and reap all the incredible benefits, you can introduce formal music education. Not only will you bond with your child as you sing, shake, and dance your way to success, but research shows they’ll grow in pre-literacy skills, language development, and body awareness. And, it’s sure to be your child’s favorite subject of the day! You can find a local teacher and class, or you can take advantage of the online classes offered at Musik at Home.

As a busy homeschooling mom, I know that not everyone can go to an in-person class.  If you don’t have the time to travel to a studio with your little one, or if the cost of in-person classes is prohibitive, or if you simply want to bring music education into your home environment, I created Musik at Home online video classes just for you. Not only will I walk you through each step of early childhood music, you won’t have to leave your house! You’ll discover how to nurture and grow your child’s musical talent at each developmental stage with simple instruments, imaginative movement, and delightful songs. 

I’d love for you to join me at Musik at Home with this 30 day free trial. All you need to do is head over to Musik at Home to sign up for 30 free days of musical memories with your child. 

You’ll be able to easily fit these short music lessons into your homeschool day and you’ll quickly see the benefits of an early childhood music education that brings the family together, prepares your child for a lifetime of musicianship, and creates magical moments you’ll all remember.

Kathryn Brunner, M.A. is a music educator who is passionate about child development and music literacy. With 19 years of teaching experience, she is on a mission to help more than 100,000 parents and children enjoy making music together at home. She has taught hundreds of children how to become artists at the piano, and she has had the privilege of leading thousands of young children in joyful musical play in her piano and Musikgarten studio, church and community. She now offers her early childhood music classes online at Musik at Home to prepare children for a lifetime of meaningful musicianship.