Do you have a song you like to sing to your baby? Perhaps there's a special tune that makes your toddler want to dance? Maybe your little one loves to babble along with a CD as you ride in the care. These are just some of the ways that infants and toddlers can interact with music. At A Brighter Rainbow Learning Center in Billerica, young children experience music on a daily basis at the daycare.

Their rich, interdisciplinary curriculum incorporates a variety of musical activities. Singing songs, playing musical instruments, and listening to music are just some of the ways teachers at A Brighter Rainbow fill each child's day with music. Studies have shown that music stimulates all aspects of a child's growth and development.

Interested in how music affects your young child? Or maybe you just want to bring more songs into your child's life. Check out these fun facts and activities for babies and toddlers from the Program for Early Parent Support:

• Infants Love to Listen: Music is a way of communicating with your baby. At a very young age, a child can recognize a familiar tune, which can help with setting a routine and transitioning between activities. Try singing a special song about bath time, meal time, and bedtime. The best kinds of music for infants are soft, soothing melodies sung in a high-pitched voice. You might notice your child shouting or babbling along when you sing or play a special song for them. This is them mimicking the sounds they hear as they interact with their environment. It's also fun to encourage your child to move to music.
• Toddlers Love to Move: Once your child is able to walk, music will become a new experience. Listening to a song or singing is less passive because they will naturally want to move along with the rhythm. They may also begin to repeat words they hear in songs, strengthening essential early literacy skills of speech and hearing. Encourage your child to clap their hands and stomp their feet to the beat of a song. While singing a familiar song, try replacing a word with a sillier one, such as "The itsy bitsy elephant" instead of spider.

These are just some of the musical benefits and simple games you can enjoy with your infant or toddler. Games and activities like these are a regular occurrence at A Brighter Rainbow Learning Center, where nurturing child development is a top priority. Visit them online to learn more, and call (978) 670-9222 to schedule a tour.