It is no secret that children love to play. They are bursting with energy and it is difficult to keep them contained. There are times when they need to be disciplined to sit still, listen, and mind their manners, but there are also times when they should be encouraged to let loose and burn off that energy. All parents know that it is much easier to put a little one to bed when they have been released to play and explore the world throughout the day. If there are two things that are very important to childhood, it is music and movement.

Early childhood music exposure can teach children many things:

* Self Expression
* Natural, Healthy Stress Relief
* Healthy Movement
* Coordination

From that list, you can see how music and movement go together. Just as adults go out to night clubs or get together in private homes to listen to good music and dance with good people, children need to learn to socialize and relax through early childhood music exposure. Once they learn to listen to the vibes of good music and see that it is okay to move their bodies, they will start to enjoy music in all of the above listed ways.

Children who are encouraged to play with music from a young age tend to be more comfortable in social situations later in life which include music and movement, such as hanging out with friends at a party or going to a school dance. They may not be professional dance and they may never take tap dance lessons, but they are comfortable with music and movement because it has been a source of play since childhood.

Playing with music helps young children with bodily coordination. They learn to move their arms and legs independently of one another, and they gain better balance and bodily control as they totter from one leg to the other, step forward and back, or jump up and down to the beat. There can also be hand-eye coordination and fine motor skill development when dance is used in creative ways to develop those skills.

If you have ever sat in a bar and watch a shy, withdrawn person suddenly let loose and show immense personality, you have seen how music and movement can be a form of self expression. Hopefully your children will not grow up to be regular self-expressers in a bar setting, but they should be encouraged to show their personalities and really light up when they are enjoying music. If they are given early childhood music exposure and are encouraged to play games and move to the music, they will grow up to comfortably express themselves through music.

Make music and movement a natural part of play in your home! If you aren't sure how to go about this, there are early childhood music programs that offer classes just for children under the age of eight. If you have a baby, you could even participate in these classes with your child. Take those lessons and learn how to play musically with your child at home. They will benefit from it!