Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Music and language development are closely connected through rhythm, sounds, repetition and shared interaction. Songs and musical activities can create enjoyable opportunities for children to listen, anticipate what comes next, take turns and communicate with other people.
Children do not need to use spoken words to participate in music. They may join in through movement, gestures, facial expressions, eye gaze, vocalisations, signs or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Familiar songs and nursery rhymes can provide predictable opportunities for this back-and-forth interaction.
How can music support children’s communication and language development?
Music can provide children with repeated opportunities to listen, anticipate, remember and respond. Songs often contain rhythm, repetition and predictable patterns, which can make them useful for practising communication and language skills in an enjoyable way.
Research has identified links between musical rhythm and aspects of children’s language development. Rhythm-based activities may support skills involved in phonological awareness, speech and language processing, and reading development. However, music should be viewed as one possible way to support learning rather than as a treatment that will automatically improve language skills.
During songs and musical activities, children can also practise important interaction skills such as shared attention, turn-taking and responding to another person. Pausing during a familiar song can create an opportunity for a child to communicate that they want the song to continue using a word, sound, movement, gesture, sign or AAC.
The most useful musical activities are often simple, repetitive and enjoyable. Familiar songs can be repeated many times, giving children opportunities to become increasingly confident with the sounds, words, actions and communication involved.
How can I use music to support language at home?
Music can be incorporated into everyday routines without needing special equipment or formal practice. Familiar songs are often the easiest place to start because children already know what to expect.
Parents and carers can try:
- Singing familiar songs slowly. Pause occasionally before a familiar word or action and give your child time to respond in their own way.
- Adding actions and gestures. Songs with movements can connect words with actions and make meaning easier to understand.
- Changing familiar lyrics. Substitute names, objects or actions in a well-known song to introduce new vocabulary.
- Using songs during routines. Simple songs can be used during dressing, packing away toys, bath time or getting ready to leave the house.
- Repeating favourite songs. Repetition gives children multiple opportunities to hear the same words, sounds and sentence patterns.
- Following your child’s interests. If your child enjoys a particular song, rhythm or movement, use that interest to encourage shared interaction and communication.
Your child does not need to copy every word or action for the activity to be useful. Watch for other forms of participation such as looking, smiling, moving, gesturing, vocalising, signing or using AAC.
Keep musical activities enjoyable and responsive. The aim is to create opportunities for communication rather than testing whether your child can remember or repeat particular words.
Tip: Repeating the same favourite song is not a problem. Familiarity can give children more opportunities to anticipate, participate and communicate.
When might Speech Pathology help?
Some children may benefit from additional support to develop their speech, language or communication skills.
A Speech Pathologist can look at how your child currently communicates and identify practical strategies that match their strengths, needs and everyday environments. Music and songs may sometimes be incorporated into therapy when they are appropriate to the child’s goals and interests.
Support may focus on areas such as understanding and using language, developing speech sounds, building vocabulary, improving social communication or exploring augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
At Innerlink Therapy, our Speech Pathologists work collaboratively with children, families and other important people in the child’s life. Therapy is tailored to the individual child and focuses on meaningful communication that can be used at home, school and in the community.
If you are concerned about your child’s communication or would like practical strategies to support language development at home, contact Innerlink Therapy to discuss whether Speech Pathology may be appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can music help with language development? Music can provide opportunities for children to listen, anticipate, remember and respond. Songs often include rhythm, repetition and predictable patterns, which may support aspects of communication and language learning when used alongside everyday interaction and appropriate therapy where needed.
What types of songs are best for supporting language? Simple, repetitive and familiar songs are often easiest to use. Songs with predictable words, actions or pauses can give children opportunities to participate through words, sounds, gestures, movements, signs or AAC.
Does my child need to sing the words for music activities to help? No. Children can participate in many different ways. They may look, smile, move, vocalise, gesture, sign, use AAC or join in with only part of a familiar song. These can all be meaningful forms of communication.
How can I use songs to build vocabulary? You can introduce new words by changing familiar lyrics, adding actions, naming objects or using songs during everyday routines. Repeating the same words in a predictable song can give children multiple opportunities to hear and understand them.
Is repeating the same song over and over useful? Yes. Familiarity can make it easier for children to anticipate what comes next and take part in the interaction. Repetition can also provide repeated exposure to the same words, sounds and sentence patterns.
When should I speak with a Speech Pathologist? You may consider speaking with a Speech Pathologist if you are concerned about your child’s speech, language, understanding, social communication or overall ability to communicate. A Speech Pathologist can assess your child’s communication and recommend strategies that suit their individual needs.