Listening to classical music has become among the hottest activiites for infants. But does it foster rapid baby brain development?
You've probably heard about the "Mozart Effect" but did you know that marketing mania has overblown the results of the real science behind it? The study that created all of the hype around classical music for babies "produced significant short-term enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning in college students." Hmmm...college students? What about babies? Plus, the effects are short-term and only in spatial-temporal reasoning. Ah yes, marketing mania.
In his book, "The Mozart Effect for Children," Don Campbell says music should be used less to create baby brainiacs than simply as one of many family home activities to enrich infants’ lives. Music conveys the feelings of love, delight, and security that help every baby thrive.
And it’s not just Mozart’s music that strikes a chord. “From the beginning, you can make use of happy nursery songs, rhythmic rocking, lively dances bounced on the knee, and quiet sessions with soft melodies.” Campbell says. So whether you’re totally tone deaf or a musical maestro, you can tune baby in to the joys of music from day one. “Not only will this exercise your baby’s mind, but it will create happy memories for you both in years to come.”
Source:
Rauscher, F.H., Shaw, G.L. & Ky, N. (1995) Listening to Mozart enhances spatial-temporal reasoning: towards a neurophysiological basis. Neuroscience Letters. 185:1. pp 44-47.