Calming Your Child-the Power of Music

About Me: aka (MUNCHKINS AND MUSIC):

I am a mom to two great children and I have a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and am a music educator. I am passionate about teaching and have taught students of all ages both publicly and privately. I am also passionate about playing music. I have been playing music since I was 8 years old and play both the piano and the saxophone.

I believe that education in music is most sovereign, and I believe that everyone who learns music will reap its benefits. My goal is to teach children music and I have a website dedicated for this very purpose: http://www.munchkinsandmusic.blogspot.com/ .


Calming Your Child—the Power of Music

I walk in the door after a long day of running errands with my cranky and tired kids. I drop the groceries on the counter and sigh as I think of the things I need to do before I can put these tired kids to bed: feed them, bathe them, dress them, give them milk, brush their teeth, and read them a story. Then my husband calls--he is going to be home late tonight because he is swamped at work…GREAT! By this time my kids’ whining has turn into crying, and I still have to clean a pan to make dinner. But, before I do anything, I walk over to the CD player and turn on some music, and immediately I feel better: my kids stop crying, and I suddenly feel calm. Thank you Enya!

Studies at Stanford show that music stimulates brain waves which help to release tension, which is why I use music to help relieve my stress, and I am not alone. Many people all over the world use music for this very reason. Studies at Columbia University shows that surgeons who use music during operations, on average, were “mellower and better performers in the operating room.”

Studies at Yale show that “Music can be used to supplement sedation in the operating room” for patients who are being operated on. Yoga and palliates use music to help in stress management, mood, energy, and concentration. Music is used as a therapy to help alleviate pain and promote wellness. King Saul, from the Bible, was said to feel “refreshed and well” after asking David to play his harp. And, many sleep clinics also use music to help to soothe their patients to sleep.

So, what type of music will help calm your child? I would recommend soft and slow music because this type of music not only stimulates brain waves which help to release tension in cells and body organs but also helps slow the heart rate and breathing. Here is a list of music I use would recommend using to help calm your child:

1. Enya
2. Soft classical flute music
3. Any soft classical music
4. Music from http://www.sleeplullabies.com/ offers a wide variety of music and sounds to help sooth your babies.
5. New age music
6. Jazz ballads
7. Meditation music
8. Sounds of nature CDs of the ocean, the wind, or the rain are very soothing for any child. You can find these at any music store.

Every child is different, so try experimenting with different types of music. For example, I have learned that my children will calm down listening to Enya at night, and in the morning my children will calm down listening to jazz ballads. I also use white noise at night to help my children fall asleep (you can find this at sleeplullabies.com). Also, try experimenting with different types of music yourself. Let the music calm your nerves and help you feel relaxed!

Is there any music that you use to help calm your children that isn’t listed here? Please tell us; we would love to hear from you!

{You'll find a WEALTH and I mean WEALTH of information about music and children at Munchkins and Music, so be sure to stop by.}