And not just romantic love. Music is the food of love in any relationship. If you doubt it, think about what introduces the Euro 2024 games or indeed any sports championship: music. Think about what sets the mood for every event and every occasion that brings people together.
Children thrive on love. So, why not use music to set the mood you want with your child? You could actually set a different song or genre for each moment you share with your child. It’s fun and absolutely easy. Even if you’re only into Euro 2024. If you hadn’t started early, take your time, be patient.
Observe what activities interest your child, filter the music around the activity, play it, and set the stage to share a familiar moment.
I started as soon as I knew I was pregnant. One study showed a foetus reacting to music as early as 16 weeks. But I’ve always been a music lover, so I was placing headphones on my belly bump as early as 12 weeks. Later on, I learned that foetal reaction to music stimulates baby’s brain and helps in developing early communication.
Of course, everything in moderation, so avoid loud music and vary music with other sound forms. There’s no one size fits all, but here are 3 ways I fed my babies love through music. You might find them interesting.
Sleep Music is the food of love
Baby grows in her sleep, develops in her sleep and awakens to increased awareness and understanding. I noticed my babies were calmer and easier to talk to after a good sleep.
It helped to use familiar music to put them to sleep. Mostly soft music worked best. When it was time to sleep, lights would dim, and I’d play the same music they used to listen to at foetal stage before my bedtime.
While a foetus, one of my girls used to kick at night when the music stopped. I’d give my bump a gentle tap but not restart the music. If she kept kicking, I would start to rub my bump and eventually we would both go back to sleep. So, remember, moderation, but also discipline. You can’t always have what you want.
Reading Music is the food of Love
In my culture and reality, academic study is essential, so post birth, reading took priority over music. Of course, some stories presented more of a challenge than others, but every time I read to my babies, I either sang an existing song or made one up. If there was a train in the book, a choo choo song was easy. And just because I love writing and singing, making up songs wasn’t particularly difficult. I even made a hit with my “Two by Two” release for the story of Noah’s Ark. A hit with my kids, of course.
But as they grow into independent readers, things get more challenging. For example, introducing Miss. Trunchbull in Roald Dahl’s Matilda required an onerous chime more than an actual song. Also, there was always the treat that we would watch the movie after the book if there was one. Animations and movies provided loads of music in soundtracks.
Fun Music is the Food of Love
As independent young adult readers, music is a mood setting activity that we don’t miss. My teens and I now share essentially the same playlists, so we’re pretty much in the same zone when it comes to communicating.
Music sets the mood for fitness, study, dance and… still sleep. It never gets old and it’s simply a fun and easy way to spend quality time together.
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