As science fairs all over the world will attest, music is good for living things. Plants grow more quickly and more fully when their owners play music for them. But the benefits of music for children are even greater than a couple of inches in height. There is a direct correlation between music and child development – and the correlation is a terrific one. So if you really want to help your family be all that it can be, consider music classes for your kids.

Coordination: One of the greatest benefits of music for children is that it helps kids’ coordination. Playing an instrument requires the use of fine motor skills. Most instruments require the use of both hands – and percussive instruments, like pianos and drums, require hands and feet to play correctly. That means that music and child development of hand-eye coordination and dexterity go hand-in-hand.

Relaxation: Even little kids can get stressed out. Music classes for kids work as a sort of unofficial "therapy": children become engaged in a project that yields positive results, and that means lower blood pressure and lower stress levels. Just like adults who are soothed by music, children also experience the same reactions of happiness and peace. Keeping your child relaxed and open to the world around him/her is one of the great benefits of music for children.

Self-Confidence: There’s a reason why rock stars act like gods. Another one of the benefits of music for children is that playing an instrument inspires a child to be confident in him/herself. Music classes for kids positively reinforce those children by showing them that hard work pays off. Self-esteem is bolstered by the joy felt in a nurturing social group. When kids participate in a group musical experience, and witness the fun of singing, dancing and playing music with each other, it has a tremendous impact on their confidence.

Music for Young Children

There are some unintended benefits of music for children, too – and they make perfect sense, when you think about them. Singing nursery rhymes to infants and toddlers encourages your children to speak, so music and a child’s development of language are linked in a positive way. The repetitive nature of nursery rhymes – much like commercial jingles – encourages memorization, which can help with classroom tests later. (There’s a reason why "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and the "Alphabet Song" have the same tune.) Studies have also been done between music and child development in terms of mathematics: studying counting and music theory makes arithmetic and algebra easier to comprehend.

Clearly, music keeps us cool, calm and collected. But there are other benefits of music for children beyond the basics. Studies are finding that specifically designed music for young children can help therapists who work with children with autism. In some cases, music has been the key to uniting families; parents can finally relate to their children through music, which lowers their stress levels, too.

But the best part of combining music and child development is the bond it can create between you and your own kids. Families that share and play music together immediately have something in common. This is actually a bigger deal than you might first assume. A family that shares a common love has an easier time communicating its needs and desires. The benefits of music for children in larger families include a feeling of unity with the members, a desire to create things as a group, and the ability to share both successes and frustrations in a safe and productive way. In other words, by participating in music classes for your kids (either at a studio or in your own home), you show your children in an active and engaging way that you value what they value. This encourages them to pursue their goals – even non-musical ones – throughout their lives. It also guarantees that families spend quality time together, because as they say – "the family that plays together, stays together."