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Brainy Babies - Does
Music Really Work?
by Jodie Lynn
Does music
really help babies become smarter? The jury is still out on this one. However,
it certainly couldn’t hurt. Just ask all of the parents who have sat up at 2:00
a.m. singing a song to an upset and crying baby.
What we do know is that music
affects all of us in different ways, mostly which are positive.
A soothing lullaby might just help to soothe a wailing infant, just as much as a
screaming toddler or anyone who has had a bad moment or an unnerving mishap of
any sort.
Happy music with various beats inspires many of us to want to dance around a
little, sing along or lightens our mood – so, what’s wrong with this?
Either way, as a parent, why not enhance the love of music in our babies,
toddlers and everyone in our household by choosing to listen to music more
frequently, perhaps over watching TV?
Play soft music at bedtime. Some parents swear by this nightly calming ritual,
especially when the same music is played.
Sing to baby. Babies grow to love to hear familiar voices. Singing a special
song is one more way for them to connect to you and actually inspires stronger
bonding.
Watch for body language. Monitor the body language of your baby as you play
certain kinds of music. When a baby seems calmer and happier, he is actually
choosing his own music.
Our goal in filling our environment with beautiful music in our homes and cars
is not to capture some kind of an unreachable goal that our baby or child will
become the next Mozart or Einstein, but instead should focus on lifting spirits
while building and increasing appreciation for the melody currently playing.
Along the way of listening to favorite tunes, should baby cultivate an innate
intelligence that sparks the next mastermind plan behind the complexity of
improving brain surgery – count your blessings. However, keep life in
perspective and don't become frustrated if he doesn't.
Just remember, happier babies are healthier emotionally and physically – just
like all of us. If playing music soothes your baby or brings a smile to his face
-- do it.
©2006 Jodie Lynn
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©2006
Jodie Lynn
Jodie Lynn is an award-winning internationally syndicated
family/health columnist and radio personality. Her syndicated column
Parent to Parent (www.ParentToParent.com)
has been successful for over 10 years and appears in newspapers,
magazines, newsletters and throughout the Internet. She is a regular
contributor to several sites including eDiets.com, KeepKidsHealthy.com,
ClubMom.com, BabyUniverse.com, MainStreetMom.com and
MommiesMagazine.com.
Lynn
has written four books and contributed to three others, one
of which was on Oprah and has appeared on NBC in a three month
parenting segment. Her latest books are
Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer) - Having, Doing and
Surviving It All! (June 2006) and
Syndication Secrets - What No One Will Tell You! (March
2006). Please see our site for details on her new radio talk
show, Inside Parenting Success!
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