| "I've heard that singing to baby is a good thing to do... | | | | There is a wide amount of research suggesting that |
| but the only problem is that I can't sing!" | | | | music has a lot of other benefits in the brain, as |
| "I heard that singing helps my child.... Is this True?" | | | | Kidshealth.org, one of the most well known parenting |
| "What sort of music should I sing to my baby?" | | | | websites says: |
| Increasingly it is thought that singing to a child, right from | | | | "Children who grow up hearing music, singing songs, |
| birth and even during pregnancy has significant | | | | and moving to the beat are enjoying what experts call |
| benefits, both for your baby and for yourself. | | | | "a rich sensory environment." That's just a way of |
| In Adults singing strengthens the immune system, | | | | expressing that a child is exposed to a wide variety of |
| according to research by scientists at the University of | | | | smells, tastes, colours and sounds. And kids who enjoy |
| Frankfurt in Germany, published in the latest edition of | | | | such a rich environment do more than have fun. |
| the US Journal of Behavioral Medicine. | | | | Researchers believe they forge more pathways |
| The scientists tested the blood of people who sang in | | | | between the cells in their brains." |
| a professional choir in the city, before and after a 60 | | | | The Music also does not have to be complex, and you |
| minute rehearsal of Mozart's Requiem. They found | | | | do not have to be a good singer! Your child will love |
| that concentrations of immunoglobin A - proteins in the | | | | you singing to them, even if you feel you are |
| immune system which function as antibodies - and | | | | completely tone deaf. |
| hydrocortisone, an anti-stress hormone, increased | | | | So start singing, you don't have to do anything |
| significantly during the rehearsal. | | | | complex! You can sing any old nursery rhymes or |
| A week later, when they asked members of the choir | | | | songs, and you can even make up your own songs, to |
| to listen to a recording of the Requiem without singing, | | | | match what you are doing at the time. |
| they found the composition of their blood did not | | | | For example, you can sing while you are getting them |
| change significantly. | | | | dressed: |
| The researchers, who included Hans Guenther Bastian | | | | I'm going to put... |
| from the Institute of Musical Education at Frankfurt | | | | One arm in, One arm in. The other arm in, the other |
| University, concluded singing not only strengthened the | | | | arm in Now my head goes through the hole, Now my |
| immune system but also notably improved the | | | | head goes through the hole Over my tummy, yes over |
| performer's mood. | | | | the tummy And button Me up! Button Me Up! |
| A new mother could certainly benefit from an | | | | You can sing this to just about any tune you like - it |
| improved immune system, especially with the lack of | | | | really doesn't matter too much! You will notice that I |
| sleep and everything else that goes along with being a | | | | repeated nearly every line. This just makes it fall more |
| parent of a young baby! | | | | naturally into rhythm. You can of course repeat every |
| The benefits for the child are more basic. A mother or | | | | line as many times as you like. Just have fun, and your |
| fathers calm voice is very soothing for babies, and | | | | baby will have fun too! |
| singing has a natural calming effect for children. | | | | |