Let’s be honest, we all have bustling lives, filled with schedules, meetings, and endless to-dos. Despite that it can be a treasure to find moments that not only bring joy to our children’s faces but also contribute to their development. Imagine if these moments could help them score better in English and Math, and even on those daunting standardized tests. Yes, I’m talking about integrating music education into our children’s lives—a subject close to my heart as a working mom always on the lookout for enriching experiences for my little ones.

We here at MomsTribute.com with top mom-to-mom blogs to help the busy working mom with kids, are always searching for tidbits that can help our readers. Talking about music education for kids and teens definitely falls into this category! Research tells us that children involved in music education enjoy lots of benefits, shaping their minds and spirits in unique ways.

The Proven Perks of Music Education

My middle daughter is a great example to the benefits of music education. She’s been taking piano lessons for years, and they have become more than just an after-school activity. They’ve sparked a discipline in her that ripples through her academics, motivating her to explore and excel. Through her musical journey, she has found a voice to express her creativity, and it’s a joy when she comes to me with requests for new sheet music or other musical tools. It shows me she’s engaged in a healthy hobby, which is something most moms wish for their kids!

Beyond piano lessons, we’ve also explored the guitar with our kids, purchasing beginner books and instruments. Though they never took off with these stringed instruments, the lessons were valuable all the same.

You might feel like you don’t have what it takes to push for musical education for your kids, but I’d encourage you to look again. Remember those lullabies we all hummed our babies to sleep with? Those melodies were their first lessons in familiarity and comfort. Fast forward to their school years, and music can continue to play a pivotal role. According to the American Psychological Association, there’s a slew of benefits when kids and teens engage with music education—they’re likely to test higher not just in the artistic realm but in subjects like English and Math as well.

This is because music education does more than teach children how to read notes or keep a beat. It instills in them a greater ability to focus, challenges them to exercise their cognitive skills, and yes, flexes their brain “muscle.”

Harmonizing Busy Schedules with Musical Learning

For us hard-working moms, the idea of incorporating music into our already packed schedules might seem daunting. Yet, it actually isn’t that hard to uncover simple, accessible ways to introduce music into our homes. The free Kid Friendly Venue app is a lifesaver, pointing us toward toy stores that have an array of musical toys for young kids. These toys are not just playthings but tools that ignite curiosity and a love for music from a tender age.

Stores like Target or Walmart can be great, offering a variety of musical instruments and gadgets suitable for babies, toddlers, and teens. In my own family, we’ve often utilized online stores like SheetMusic.com. You can also ask friends and family for recommendations for local instructors in your area.

Creating a Symphony of Support at Home

Championing music education doesn’t mean we have to be maestros ourselves. It’s about creating an environment where music is appreciated, explored, and enjoyed. Sure, it can be hard to endure the early years when musical attempts might hurt our ears. If this sounds like you, don’t feel too guilty. A few years ago, my husband replaced our daughter’s piano with an electric keyboard so she could practice using headphones!

With the right tools, our homes can become arenas of encouragement, where mistakes in practice sessions are seen as steps toward mastery, and where every little performance is celebrated. Our involvement sends a powerful message—that we believe in the lessons beyond the music; lessons of perseverance, creativity, and the sheer joy of expressing oneself.

A Closing Note

In the grand composition of raising our children, music education represents both a melodious pause and a dynamic accelerator in their development. It bridges gaps between academic disciplines, opening up worlds where equations and essays are met with equal enthusiasm. And as working moms, there’s a profound comfort in knowing that our decision to integrate music into our children’s lives does more than entertain; it elevates.

To those considering this path for their children, remember, the seeds we plant today in their musical education can bloom into a lifelong melody of success and happiness. The time to start is now, weaving a tapestry of notes and rhythms into the fabric of their daily learning, and watching, with hearts full, as they compose their own unique symphonies of life.

Katie C