How Playing Music Benefits Your Child’s Development In The Womb And After Birth

We all think that our child is the best – most talented, quick-witted and intelligent. We, parents, do much for it to be true. First we spend much of our own time on teaching the child to read, count and write, then we find multiple tutors, organize extra classes and activities to develop all possible talents, and spend a lot of money for our child to be “top of the class”. What if there is a way for children to start developing even before they are born? Furthermore, this way can help form their character and temper, make it well-balanced, calm and rational. Intrigued yet?

The secret is simple – introduce your child to music while it's in the womb. It is scientifically proven that every person has an innate response to music regardless of their level of ability and training. Music can start affecting your child even before birth! Ultrasounds reveal that ears start developing from week 3, however, the child in the womb hears its first sound at around 16-18 week of pregnancy. By 24th week the child’s head turns in response to voices and noises. During the last months of pregnancy an unborn baby recognizes her mum’s voice, native language, word patterns, intonation and rhymes. Magical, right?

Gentle, soft, nice and peaceful melodies, that an unborn baby hears, inspire happiness and tranquility. Regular exposition to the same melodies can later help create a calm atmosphere to nurture their sleeping patterns. Music is also a great facilitator of parental bonding. Listening to music sends soothing chemicals throughout the mother’s body to the child. Adding a bit of your own vocal will be beneficial.

Music is widely treated as a painkiller. It promotes the release of neurotransmitters, called endorphins, which trigger a positive feeling in the body and act as natural painkillers. It can help both mum and baby release tension or ache of any kind without having medicine. During pregnancy mothers tend to have more stress than usual. It always affects the baby’s well-being. In order to avoid stress, apathy and anxiety we also advise musical treatment. Through music mothers can release negative emotions and thoughts. A delighted and cheerful mum means a healthy baby.

Numerous researches prove that music encourages early brain development. Music facilitates neuron connection in the brain by stimulating it. It also assists in growth of the brain structure. Studies confirm that babies can remember what they heard in the womb for four months after they have been born! Continue playing the music to your child or teach him or her to play as soon as they can – it will boost their communication and mathematical skills, literacy, verbal memory and coordination.

The better effect will be reached if you do not just listen to music – you play it yourself. And the best time to start doing it is the 3rd trimester. But what instrument to choose? Do not be afraid if you’ve never played one or do not know musical theory because there is an instrument that does not require all that and is beginners - friendly. It is a RAV Vast. “What is a RAV Vast?” – you may ask. It is a steel tongue drum that looks like a small space ship, weighs like an average cat but sounds like someone’s playing the strings of your (and your baby’s) soul. There are a variety of scales and each of them has its own mood: cheerful, dreamy, peaceful or even mystical – you can choose to your liking! Each instrument has seven notes and is constructed and tuned in a way that any melody you play sounds beautifully and harmonically correct. With a RAV Vast drum usually two hours is enough to become a musician!

The tongue drum produces tranquil, soothing sound which helps to decrease frustration, manage stress, lower anxiety and purify emotions – everything that a pregnant mother needs. It changes the perception and promotes a bright mood and mental wellbeing. RAV Vast will be a savior for the mum and the baby. And let us not forget about fathers! Both of the parents can easily play the drum and feel its effect.

RAV is absolutely child-friendly: it is made of safe materials, is lightweight and rust-resistant, and is rigid and shockproof. So as soon as your child is able to play him/her-self, let them do it! Usually they start playing on the spot, nor struggling at all. Sometimes they play even better than their parents!

While playing a steel drum may seem to children just fun and pleasure it is of great importance for their development. When they play with both hands – both right and left brains are in action. The right hemisphere is responsible for processing nonverbal information − symbols and images. It produces musicality, fantasy, creativity and imagination. The left hemisphere controls speaking, reading and writing. It captures memory and counting abilities. Therefore, when a child plays a musical instrument he activates multiple areas of the brain simultaneously training and stimulating them. As a result of regular music sessions a kid starts to count faster, talk more clearly and correctly, write avoiding mistakes, remember dates and names. The kid’s realm of imagination helps to create stories and poems, write essays and even compose music.

The earlier you start the music nourishment – the better. Now you know that exposing your child to music, even when it’s not yet born, ignites all areas of development. And the instrument that can captivate from the very first note is a RAV Vast drum. It vibrates harmoniously with your and your baby’s souls.