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The answer lies in how music and language are processed in the brain. Research shows that babies experience speech as melody and rhythm before they understand words. Their music-processing networks are active from birth, while their language networks take time to develop – essentially ‘borrowing’ the musical pathway to grow.

This means that musical experiences in early childhood, including hearing and singing songs in different languages, strengthen the brain’s ability to process speech, build memory, and develop confidence in communication. The more we immerse children in rich and varied musical environments, the stronger these foundational networks become.

But beyond the neurological benefits, singing songs in different languages also nurtures curiosity about the world and builds inclusivity from an early age.

…beyond the neurological benefits, singing songs in different languages also nurtures curiosity about the world and builds inclusivity from an early age…

It gives children:

👉🏼 Exposure to different languages – Making other languages feel familiar, not foreign.
👉🏾 A window into different cultures – Helping them connect music with traditions beyond their own.
👉 An empathy boost – Encouraging them to understand and appreciate different ways of expressing emotions.
👉🏿 A shift away from ‘othering’ – Normalising linguistic and cultural diversity so it feels natural, not ‘different.’
👉🏽 A sense of belonging – Helping multilingual children see their home languages valued in their learning spaces.

At the beginning of last month, during #National Storytelling Week, we shared songs in different languages to give children the chance to experience language through melody, just as their brains are naturally wired to do. But beyond strengthening speech and memory, these songs help to lay the groundwork for inclusivity, showing children the richness that music, language and culture offer to us all.

So, if you ever needed a reason to keep singing with little ones, this is it!

Every musical moment is shaping not just their musicality, but their minds and their worldview too.

Here’s to growing confident communicators, one song at a time!