There is evidence to support music therapy, but you don’t have to be a music therapist to get the benefits of singing to and with your child. Your child doesn’t care if you are a professional singer, or if you are singing the right words, or making it up as you go.
Singing can help speech and language development
Everyone knows that young children enjoy music, but did you know that singing can help stimulate speech and help in the development of speech and language? If your child is a late talker, with or without a diagnosis of autism or apraxia, sing to them until they can sing with you.
There is evidence to support music therapy, but you don’t have to be a music therapist to get the benefits of singing to and with your child. Your child doesn’t care if you are a professional singer, or if you are singing the right words, or making it up as you go.
As the day goes on you can invent songs by putting words together to fit just about any situation you are in with your child. Sing to them while they are falling asleep, playing with toys, taking a bath, going to the doctor, being pushed on a swing, helping you make lunch or driving in the car.
Slow down the singing
There are numerous musicians who specialize in children’s music and there are also soundtracks to a child’s favorite movies which your child may enjoy. There are also musicians who slow down the most popular children’s songs to help children with apraxia and other speech impairments sing along. If you have a child like mine that didn’t want to listen to slowed down versions of the classics, let them listen to what they enjoy but there are still ways to trick them into liking slowed down music. When I sang to him, I would intentionally use a reduced tempo and combine that with a sing-song voice, and even with props and actions aside, a huge smile and lots of expressions to keep it fun. It’s important as well to clearly articulate each word. Over emphasize if you have to! For example, for Baby Shark, the refrain would be “Baaaaybeeee SHARK! doo…doo…doo…doo…doo …doo…doo” instead of “Baby SHARK! doodoodoodoodoodoo”
Baby Shark
Pause before the last word of a classic song
When singing a classic children’s song take a breath to pause before singing that last word. Even better is when the last word is repeated which helps with motor planning such as is The Wheels On the Bus. “The wheels on the bus go round and ____ (round). Round and ____ (round). Round and ____ (round). The wheels on the bus go round and ____ (round). All day long.” If your child doesn’t fill in the word, just finish the word yourself, don’t pause too long because again you want to keep it fun to keep their attention. If they do attempt to join in laugh, clap and sing along with them. I always found props to help so for that song you can use a toy school bus or a picture of a school bus while singing. And this brings me to what I found to help the most with speech and that is when a song like The Wheels On the Bus was paired with actions.
Wheels On the Bus
Incorporate actions
Incorporate actions whenever possible and have fun with it. Remember, children learn through play. Making a song interactive with actions, puppets, and other props make it more fun. So, when singing 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed have five stuffed animals or finger puppets that you and your child can jump with when singing about the monkeys jumping, drop one of the stuffed animals when you sing, “one fell off” and then tap your head when you say “ and bonked his head” Act like you are holding a phone when you sing, “Momma called the doctor” and jokingly scold by waving your pointer finger back and forth when singing what the doctor said, “NO more monkeys jumping on the bed!” You can again sing it with a pause “NO more monkeys jumping on the ____ (bed).”
Five Little Monkeys
There are so many interactive songs (songs with actions) where you can also use puppets, toys, or finger play while you sing along and have fun. My boys also enjoyed watching videos like these from Kidsongs when they were younger. Their site also has lyrics to popular children’s songs. About links to outside sites. Cherab Foundation has been volunteer based for 20 years and has no affiliations. Just sharing free information.
Some More Examples
The following are a few more examples of classic children’s songs with actions, please comment below and let me know if I’m missing your favorites! You can incorporate puppets, toys and other props to make it even more interactive. See which methods your child enjoys and you’ll know it’s a huge success when your late talker child attempts to participate!
Row Row Row Your Boat
Where is Thumbkin
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
If You’re Happy and You Know It
Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Listen to my son Tanner (pictured below with his brother Dakota) at 4 years old singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
LISA GENG
Author, Mom, Founder, and President of The Cherab Foundation
Lisa Geng is an accomplished author, mother, founder, and president of the CHERAB Foundation. She is a patented inventor and creator in the fashion, toy, and film industries. After the early diagnosis of her two young children with severe apraxia, hypotonia, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, and CAPD, she dedicated her life to nonprofit work and pilot studies. Lisa is the co-author of the highly acclaimed book “The Late Talker” (St Martin’s Press 2003). She has hosted numerous conferences, including one overseen by a medical director from the NIH for her protocol using fish oils as a therapeutic intervention. Lisa currently holds four patents and patents pending on a nutritional composition. She is a co-author of a study that used her proprietary nutritional composition published in a National Institute of Health-based, peer-reviewed medical journal.
Additionally, Lisa has been serving as an AAN Immunization Panel parent advocate since 2015 and is a member of CUE through Cochrane US. Currently working on her second book, “The Late Talker Grows Up,” she also serves as an executive producer of “Late Talkers Silent Voices.” Lisa Geng lives on the Treasure Coast of Florida.