Nursery World - Learning and Development: Music for the Under-threes

In the first of a new series on creative play with the under-threes, Alice Sharp offers satisfying ways to make music with children from birth to 12 months.

Research shows that a musically enriched home environment has an influence on the development of a child's musical ability. Through music, early years practioners can aid children's development across the Early Years Foundation Stage.

When planning music activities for very young children in your setting, remember that the more opportunities that the children are given to explore and practise particular skills, the more confident they will become in using them in different situations.

Babies experiment with making sounds that are pleasing to themselves. Early years practitioners can build on this by encouraging babies to interact with them when singing lullabies and rhymes. Songs and rhymes used with this age group should be short and contain lots of repetition.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included