Music helps kids' language skills

April 11, 3:03 PMDC Metro Area Parenting ExaminerMichelle Flannigan

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Photo courtesy of SXC. 

Try turning on the tunes if you want your child to speak up. Research shows that exposure to music helps boost children's language skills, even if the songs have no lyrics. But take it from me: If you add lyrics, keep them G-rated.

A study published last month in Psychology of Music  focused on the effects of piano playing on grade school students. One group of kids received piano lessons; the other group did not. After three years, those who played the piano had better vocabulary and verbal skills.

Of course, adding lyrics can't hurt. We all learned the alphabet to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and we learned to rhyme by singing nursery rhymes.

I recently learned, however, that you must be careful what the lyrics are. A few months ago, I was talking to Sister Sonia at our church in Fairfax. My toddler was sitting patiently in the nun's office with me, swinging his feet and humming. When he noticed Sister Sonia smiling at him, he hopped off his chair and started serenading her with the entire B. J. Thomas 1960s hit, "Hooked on a Feeling."

Sister had never heard the song. "Did he just say, 'I got it bad for you, girl?'" she asked. Soon, half a dozen church staffers were crowded into her office. I was mortified. Why didn't I teach Noah "Jesus Loves Me" instead?

Of course, there are worse songs than "Hooked on a Feeling." The church workers did not condemn me; they laughed their heads off (especially when Noah got to "Yeah, you turn me on"). Sister Sonia took a picture. But now I screen the words to the songs I play around the house!