5 music and movement activities for babies and toddlers

Music is a part of family life in every culture. Simple lullabies have been sung to babies since the beginning of time. As a pediatrician, I know that singing a familiar song can help form a special bond between parent and child. I’m proud that HealthPartners offers fun opportunities for families to make music together, and I encourage parents to make it part of their daily routines.

Benefits of music in early childhood development

Music and movement are critical for children’s early brain development. Singing, and the rhythm and rhyme that happens with it, helps shape your child’s social skills, vocabulary and ability to regulate emotions. One of the biggest benefits of singing with your child is simply the face time that it allows – direct interaction allows babies to read your facial cues and learn about emotions.

Music can help buffer stress, literally calming the heartbeat and soul. Even if you don’t consider yourself the best singer, hearing your voice has a calming influence on your baby when you slow down your words and sing them with rhythm.

Music also offers valuable opportunities to expose children to new languages and cultures. Sing to your child in your native language. And take time to explore songs and music that promote acceptance of other languages and cultures.

Sign up for free MacPhail family music classes

HealthPartners has teamed up with MacPhail Center for Music to offer “Sing Play Learn” classes. These free classes – for kids ages 5 and under – are held weekly at HealthPartners clinic locations across the metro.

Try these five music activities at home to keep children moving and learning

1. Sing when you’re counting your baby’s fingers and toes.

Use a rhyme like “Five little ducks went out one day, over the hill and far away. Mother duck said, ‘Quack quack quack quack,’ but only four little ducks came back.” When you’re counting, use your five fingers to show the five ducks. Hide a finger each time a duck doesn’t come back. Research shows that young children who participate in music demonstrate increases in pre-math and pre-reading skills.

2. Choose any tune to sing “We sing and we sing and we stop” – and repeat that three times.

Then choose other fun words like “dance” or “wiggle,” and wiggle until you sing “Stop!” This helps develop impulse control skills. Musical and movement activities, such as musical games and instrument play, naturally provide opportunities for cooperative play, listening and turn-taking.

3. Play your favorite instrumental music and take turns acting out what the music sounds like to you and your toddler.

You can even do this with a drum! Maybe you’ll dance like fairies, stalk like lions or float like clouds. Children of all ages benefit from moving to the rhythm of music. Babies build body-spatial awareness. Toddlers gain locomotor skills. Preschoolers develop coordination.

4. Sing songs that help positively reinforce behavior.

“Zip, zip your zipper up to your chin! Don’t you let the cold air in!” This makes getting ready a little easier. Music is a useful tool to help young children move from one activity to another. It also reduces negative behaviors and helps with routines.

5. Choose a familiar children’s song and change the words in silly ways.

“The itsy-bitsy elephant climbed up the water spout!” Have fun finding odd combinations. One of the most important benefits of music is that it’s simply fun! Music is a great form of self-expression. It promotes creative thinking and offers a happy way to play and bond with your child.

Of course, music and singing aren’t only for the waking hours! Soothing songs and melodies can be lifesavers for parents wondering: How can I get my baby to sleep? When will baby sleep through the night?

Learn more about how we support children's mental and behavioral health.