Nick JR

Nick JR

This year, the government announced that it is establishing a 'Youth Culture Trust' for school pupils to attend ballet, opera and classical music concerts and broaden their musical experiences. But for children not yet old enough to attend school, what are the best ways for their parents to help develop their enjoyment of music?

The popular UK preschool TV channel, Nick Jr, has teamed up with one of the UK’s leading developmental music psychologists, Keele University’s Dr Alexandra Lamont, to come up with some top tips for parents wishing to actively encourage their under-fives’ burgeoning musical tastes.

1. Share your favourite music Reliving your favourite musical experiences and enthusiasm with your child can go a long way. You could tell them the story behind the music, such as where you first heard it, and why you like it. Don’t be put off if your child doesn’t seem to appreciate your treasured tunes at first – even adults often don't like being exposed to new things - so try repeating unfamiliar music a few times to see if they will come to enjoy it.

2. Use music from their daily routines Take note of your child's routines outside the home, for example when they’re at day-care, nursery or being looked after by relatives, and incorporate them into your shared activities. Many young children experience a great deal of music at nursery, listening to different kinds of music or singing along to songs. Why not make the most of this by singing the same songs on car journeys or playing similar music at home. Young children love repetition! 3. Notice their musical tastes Be attentive when your child expresses an opinion about music, see how they respond to different tunes - in and outside of the home - and share those situations with them. You could use their favourite nursery rhyme to play a game together or settle down and sing along to their favourite television theme songs. 4. Try lots of different musical genres Test out lots of different styles of music until you discover one that your child really responds to. This could mean that they move around a lot to the music or stop moving and listen intently; young children are more likely to stop moving if they experience a new style they haven't heard before which interests them. Don’t feel that you should only play them music aimed at young children – children can enjoy all kinds of music. 5. Get physical with music Actively enjoying music means getting active! Try playing different musical games involving clapping, dancing, swaying, rocking and changing your actions (and those of your child) when the music changes its mood or speed. Sing and dance together to music on the radio, or hold your child on your lap and listen to some soothing music together. 6. Make the most of their favourite tunes Start with the familiar as a way of introducing your child to new genres of music. When you know what they like, you can broaden their musical taste by trying things that are closely related. For example, if your child enjoys the theme song to their favourite television programme, listen to the instruments that are used and try to find other kinds of music that also use those instruments. 7. Keep going and keep it fun! These are just a few ideas to get you started. All children respond well to music, so keep going until you find a particular kind of music that will get them going or, alternatively, calm them down. Do remember that music is something to be enjoyed, so having fun is the most important thing!

Joanna O’Connell, mum to four-year old Jack and Charlie, aged three, from Gerrards Cross in Bucks, says, “My sons absolutely love music and they enjoy singing and dancing along. Jack loves the theme tunes to his favourite shows, Roary the Racing Car and Fifi and the Flowertots, whereas Charlie prefers the more traditional songs such as ‘The Wheels on the Bus’. Both boys also enjoy singing along to my CDs in the car. I'm really keen to encourage their interest in music as I think it benefits their development, and I particularly like the idea of listening to which instruments are used in their favourite music.”

“Music is something to be shared at all ages,” says Dr Lamont. “It really doesn’t matter what kind of music it is, but getting to know music together is a great way of connecting with your children. As well as loving the repetition of their favourite songs and programmes, young children have amazingly diverse musical tastes which you can nurture and encourage”.

Nick Jr is an award-winning dedicated preschool TV channel available on Sky TV (channel 615) and Virgin TV (channel 715). Join in with songs, stories and exclusive clips of Nick Jr shows online at www.nickjr.co.uk/video.