Physical Wellbeing

Music provides motivation to be physically active and improves children’s general physical ability. Through reduction of muscle tension and the improvement of coordination and movement, music is a beautiful way of assisting children’s physical development. It makes some other surprise contributions to physical health as well: dancing and moving to music aside, music appears to affect our bodies’ neurochemicals resulting in a boost to the immune system, warding off infection and helping to prevent obesity.

Professor Daniel J. Levitin from the Psychology Department at Canada’s McGill University found many health benefits of ‘musical intervention’. These highlights were particularly interesting (as listed on Medical Daily):

People who listened to music had an increase in their levels of Immunoglobulin A (IgA), a type of antibody that is present at mucosal surfaces (digestive tract, lungs, etc.) and helps to prevent infections.

Music listeners had higher numbers of an immune cell type called ‘natural killer cells,’ whose job it is to attack bacteria, infected cells, and cancerous cells.

Listening to music reduced levels of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone that has many physiological effects, one of which has a role in promoting obesity.

With music obviously stimulating chemical outcomes in our bodies, it’s unsurprising that the above research, along with an abundance of additional studies, also find notable emotional benefits.

Emotional wellbeing

Listening to, singing and making music impacts our emotions and those of children – it’s something many of us can feel almost immediately in ourselves when we are exposed to music and certainly we see this happen in children every single day.

Complementing the fact that music decreases stress, negative emotions and calms children, words in songs can even serve as positive affirmations. Working to build on musical activity’s predisposition to shaping a positive and content sense of emotional wellbeing.

Students who participated in musical activities had higher self-esteem and motivation levels, in part stemming from the improved relationships they had with parents and teachers. The children who took part in musical activities talked to their parents and teachers more, leading also to richer social relationships.

 Social wellbeing

Its impact on the intellectual, social and personal development of children by Susan Hallam from the Institute of Education, University of London, research in Europe has demonstrated that incorporating music into the curriculum increased social bonds, allowed for improved social adjustment and overall attitudes in children were more positive.

As the prevalence of social anxiety grows in children in the world we live in today, the importance of social development has never been greater. And based on the ample research available, music can play a pivotal role in promoting healthy, positive social development as well as preventing and remedying social issues when embedded in educational settings.

On a practical level, music helps children learn that together they can make something extra special that they couldn’t do alone – what a dynamic social experience that can only promote a sense of healthy social wellbeing for young people.

There is no such thing as being too young to begin enhancing wellbeing. If anything, early childhood is the ideal time to promote the importance of mental health, emotions, social development and physical wellness. More than that, nurturing overall wellbeing and health in children should be practical and fun, so children enjoy wellbeing routines and understand the value of practicing healthy habits and learning ways of improving their own wellbeing on an every day basis.