13/04/2026
Many parents are surprised to learn that music and reading development are closely connected.
Research has shown that a child’s ability to keep a steady beat is linked to the brain systems involved in language and reading. In other words, the same networks that help us recognise rhythm in music are also involved in recognising the sounds that make up words.
This is why rhythm activities can sometimes give useful clues about how a child’s auditory processing is developing.
For example, if a child finds it difficult to clap or move in time with a beat, it may simply reflect development happening at a different pace. But in some cases it can also highlight that the systems involved in timing and listening are working a little harder than expected.
Approaches that use rhythm, movement and music are often used to support these foundations for learning. They engage multiple areas of the brain at once and help strengthen the connections involved in listening, coordination and language.
Sometimes something as simple as rhythm can give us valuable insight into how a child learns.