What does early musical play have to do with youth sports? If you’re thinking of signing your toddler or preschooler up for t-ball, soccer, gymnastics, etc., take a look at these links between athletic ability and intentional music and movement. You may be surprised at how much it can help little ones gain confidence early in their sports journeys, and how much longer it might help them stick with it.
Music and sports are often viewed as two very separate entities, but they’re actually very closely linked.
You need muscle strength for both, balance for both, focus for both…the list goes on.
One can support the other, but what’s the argument for which comes first?
The most logical answer is that even newborns can engage in early musical play, and music lights up all parts of the brain needed for success in sports later on.
Here are 4 reasons you should practice early musical play with children before signing them up for sports, and as they pursue them, to help support their athletic abilities as they grow.
4 Ways Group Musical Play Helps Kids Thrive in Youth Sports
Hand Strength
Supervised, age-appropriate instrument and prop play is an easy way to build up the same muscles needed for gripping a bat. From baby shakers to rhythm sticks, children can graduate from wider materials to more narrow items as their overall hand strength and pincer grasp increases. And when it’s time to step up to the plate, they’re ready!
Balance and Coordination
Balance and coordination mean so much more than being able to stand on one foot. In the world of sports, you need to be able to shift your weight quickly, move diagonally, spin on a dime, jump and land…all without falling.
In a Kindermusik class, this prep work starts in a newborn class. We begin introducing balance and coordination by rocking babies to the music, which promotes spatial awareness and equilibrium. Next, we start to cross the midline (meaning the middle of the body) to help one side of the brain connect to the other. This is essential to developmental milestones like bilateral integration, which may start with passing an instrument from one hand to the other. That leads to grasping important sports skills like passing a tennis racket from the right to the left hand without dropping it during a match.
We love using the song “Dr. Knickerbocker” (you can stream it for free on the Kindermusik app) to help children of all ages cross the midline.
For example, when you hear “Now let’s put the rhythm in our feet,” model crossing the midline by reaching right hand to left foot and left hand to fight foot. For babies, do it for them while they’re in your lap.
Steady beat is another critical aspect of coordination. It affects much more than physical abilities (like handwriting, language acquisition and expression, and more), but it’s key to running, cycling, dancing, and all forms of athletic performance.
Shared musical play incorporates steady beat by using everything from tapping along to the beat to twirling in circles.
Emotional Regulation
Playing sports is emotional, so learning how to stay focused, share plays, and deal with losses is key. Practicing music and movement in a group setting sets up positive social-emotional behavior children need to succeed in a team setting.
Within an early musical play class, you might see this in the form of freeze dance, which boosts self-control and listening skills. Shared instrument play—like passing the drum around in a circle—is another easy and effective away to encourage turn-taking and respecting others.
Improvisation
One of the best parts about any type of play is making things up as you go. That’s why child-led activities are so important. Improvising during musical play really gives children the confidence they need to shift gears and try something new in other arenas, like sports.
Shared music-making might start with modeling how to rub those sandblocks together, but it leads to “What other ways can you make sounds with your sandblocks? I see you’re tapping them on the floor!” This kind of exercise gives children center stage, acknowledges their creative choices, and gives them the motivation they need to keep exploring—all of which easily translates to the playing field!
Whether you’re already knee deep in a team sport, thinking about it for next semester, or know it’s in your children’s or students’ future and want to give them a head start, consider incorporating the power of shared musical play to boost those early athletic skills. It’s as much about the emotional component as it is the physical one, and we know that play—in any form—is much more likely to encourage persistence.
Want to explore sports-building skills in a group music and movement class? Find one near you. For teachers, check out how you can infuse these whole-body activities into your day through one of our curriculum kits.