First Discussion Question: Take A Moment To View The Followi
First Discussion Question: Take a moment to view the following videos
First Discussion Question: Take a moment to view the following videos, which discuss the effects of music on the brain: Does Music Make Kids Smarter? Health Matters: Music and the Mind Consider the following scenario: You are friends with a family who has a 5-year-old son named Howard. Howard loves coming to school gets along with well other children. He has a positive attitude about learning and is persistent when facing challenges. His favorite thing about school is music time.
He loves to sing and dance. During center time, he plays with instruments and listens to music on head phones. His school also has a music teacher, and Howard is learning how to play the piano. Howard was recently diagnosed with a learning disability and his cognitive and language development appears delayed. His parents want to put him in an academically focused program that does not include music education.
They feel that this type of experience does not address his special learning needs and that more time must be spent on academics in order to bring him up to grade level. What advice do you give Howard’s parents? In your answer, discuss developmental milestones for this age group and cite research regarding the effect of music education and experience on the cognitive development of young children. You may refer to the national standards for Arts education, ArtsEdge, Standards , or any other state standards you would like.
Paper For Above instruction
Music's integral role in early childhood development is well-supported by research emphasizing its positive effects on cognitive, social, and emotional growth. For Howard, a five-year-old with a diagnosed learning disability, maintaining a rich musical environment is crucial, not only because it aligns with his interests but also due to its proven benefits in supporting developmental milestones and enhancing learning outcomes.
Developmentally, children around age five are expected to demonstrate significant progress in language, social skills, motor coordination, and basic cognitive abilities such as problem-solving and memory. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), children at this stage should be engaged in activities that foster active learning through play, exploration, and creative expression (NAEYC, 2020). Howard’s love for music and participation in musical activities indicate that his development is on a positive trajectory, especially in areas linked to auditory processing, rhythm, and language skills.
Research underscores the value of music education in supporting these developmental domains. A landmark study by Moreno et al. (2011) demonstrated that active music training could enhance verbal intelligence, working memory, and reading skills in young children. Similarly, Hallam (2010) reviewed numerous studies concluding that music education promotes improved spatial reasoning, which is linked to mathematical abilities. For children like Howard with learning challenges, engaging with music stimulates neural pathways associated with language and cognitive development, fostering skills that are transferable to academic tasks.
Furthermore, music fosters social-emotional skills such as cooperation, self-regulation, and confidence. For Howard, a child who delights in singing and playing instruments, continuous exposure to musical activities supports emotional expression and social integration, which are vital for his overall well-being and academic success (Schlaug et al., 2010). Removing music from his educational experience could deprive him of these benefits, potentially hindering his developmental progress.
Educational standards, including the Common Core State Standards and National Arts Standards, advocate a balanced curriculum that integrates arts into learning to cultivate creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Maintaining Howard’s participation in music aligns with these standards, emphasizing the arts as vital components of early childhood education (National Core Arts Standards, 2014).
In conclusion, rather than excluding music, parents and educators should integrate it thoughtfully into Howard’s individualized education plan (IEP). Music not only nurtures his interests but also provides essential cognitive and developmental benefits that support his learning needs. A multidisciplinary approach that combines targeted academic interventions with musical activities offers the best pathway for Howard to reach his full potential, fostering both his academic and personal growth.
References
- Hallam, S. (2010). The power of music: Its impact on the intellectual, social and personal development of children and young people. International Journal of Music Education, 28(3), 269-289.
- Moreno, S., Marques, C., Santos, A., Santos, M., Castro, S. L., & Besson, M. (2011). Music training influences linguistic abilities in 8-year-old children: More evidence for brain plasticity. Cerebral Cortex, 21(10), 1-10.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). (2020). Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8.
- National Core Arts Standards. (2014). Performing Arts Standards for Music. Retrieved from https://www.nationalartsstandards.org
- Schlaug, G., Norton, A., Overy, K., & Winner, E. (2010). Effects of Music Training on the Brain and Cognitive Development. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1169(1), 182-186.
- Standards for Music Education. (2014). National Foundation for the Improvement of Education.
- Benson, P., & Miller, M. (2008). The power of thematic teaching and integrated curricula. Journal of Early Childhood Education.
- Helm, J. H. (2008). The Art of Inquiry: Questioning Strategies for K-8 Classrooms. National Institute for Early Education Research.
- ArtsEdge. (2021). Standards and Frameworks for Arts Education. Kennedy Center.
- Standards for Science Education. (2013). Next Generation Science Standards. Achieve, Inc.