24/04/2026
When we say, 'play is a child's work' or 'play is learning' we are not lying. There is learning and development in so many experiences our children come in contact with. Whether they are naturally occuring or adult led.
This photo shows my son Otto, at the age of 14 months playing the piano in our livingroom.
Music can be beneficial to natural development in many ways. Otto can be developing:
Motor Skills: Pressing piano keys is "exercise for the hands," strengtheningĀ fine motor skills, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination.
ā¢Emotional regulation: Music can have a calming effect, helping babies learn to self-soothe and recover more quickly when upset.
ā¢Brain Structure & Connectivity: Music activates the corpus callosum, the bridge connecting the two hemispheres, which speeds up message transmission across the brain.
ā¢Neuroplasticity: Active music-making (like pressing piano keys) induces structural changes in theĀ auditory cortexĀ andĀ prefrontal cortex, areas responsible for processing sound, speech, and attention.
ā¢Hormonal Benefits: Playing and listening to music releasesĀ endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin, which reduce stress (cortisol) and enhance emotional bonding between infant and caregiver.
Other key benefits of music include:
ā¢Ā Language & Literacy: Musical learning occurs in the same brain regions as speech. Babies who engage with music often may recognize patterns in sounds more effectively, a vital precursor to learning to talk.
Cognitive Skills: Studies suggest early piano exposure can improveĀ spatial reasoning, which is foundational for later success in mathematics and engineering.
ā¢Non-Verbal Emotional Expression:Ā For toddlers who may lack the vocabulary to express complex feelings, the piano and other instruments serve as an emotional outlet. They learn to express emotions such as happiness, sadness, or stress through tempo, volume, and melody.
ā¢ Pattern Recognition and Sequencing:Ā The piano's layout helps children recognize patterns, which is a key component in both language development and cognitive growth.
