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Raising Creative Kids
The Art of Music
By Shel Franco
Music is a constant background at the home of Lolita Coughlin of Madison, Wis. "Both [my husband and I] love music, so it is important that Mariana loves it, too," she says. A collection of compact disks, ranging from children's classics to Walt Disney movie soundtracks, helps add flavor to the 3-year-old's day. Coughlin says that once a disk is in place, it's not long before Mariana is singing along.
But an elaborate music collection is not the only thing that can give a child exposure to the positives of music. Parents can open the world of music to their child by simply singing to them. In a matter of time, most parents notice that their child is singing along.
"I sing to Christopher when we're working together at home," says Dianne Cooke, of Madison, Wis. Cooke says they pick music according to the activity. For example, they use energetic rock songs for house cleaning and classical music for contemplative reading.
Once a child has been introduced to music inside the home, the next logical step is to explore musical opportunities in the outside world. Kramer suggests parents take their preschoolers to concerts and enroll them in a preschool music class.
Many larger cities have symphonies, orchestras and choral groups specifically dedicated to educating the younger public. Parents can check in their local yellow pages and telephone box offices for the availability of matinee concerts geared toward children.