How to Encourage Your Child to Sing

It's a dream of some parents for their child to grow up and become world-famous for their talent, like being a successful musician. But music is more than just a career path. It has a value all on its own, whether it's through learning how to play an instrument or learning how to sing 

Many kids know how to sing on their own. It's one of the first things they learn because of lullabies and nursery rhymes. Singing not only helps children feel happier and more confident, but it also can improve their motor skills and concentration. As a parent, you have the potential to help your child enjoy singing, but if you're not careful, you could make them hate it, too.

Here's how you can encourage your child to sing more often and sing well.

1. Teach them good posture and breathing. If you want your kids to sing, they'll need to be active enough for simple back stretches and have a tighter stomach. The reason for this is that a good singer can hit a solid range of notes and pitches because they're stretching out their mouths and letting enough air through their diaphragm. It's the difference between mumbling a lyric and belting out a tune.

2. Give them an opportunity to perform. If your child becomes confident about singing on their own, then they might do well with singing in front of others. Hold a few simple "concerts" around family and friends. Be patient and supportive when they perform. Avoid offering any criticism in front of others and don't correct them in the middle of a performance. Your goal is to help them grow and sing well on their own. Too much correction or too many negative reactions during their first time in public might turn them off of singing altogether.

3. Know your child's vocal range. Don't expect your child to master a song in the highest register. While you might be encouraging them to sing a little more loudly, not all children can hit the highest notes like some teenagers and adults can. And never exhaust your child's voice in the course of encouraging them to sing.

4. Keep singing fun. Even if your child has a natural talent for singing, don't turn it into a chore or a homework assignment. Singing is fun and we should always remember that. Let your child something that they enjoy or find more sings that they like for them to practice. Keep lessons or practice sessions short, so you don't overtax your child's voice.

5. Let them practice rather than tell them how. It's tempting for a parent (or any music teacher) to just explain how singing works, but the best way for children to learn something is to do it themselves. Demonstrate first and then let them try. It's all right if they have trouble at first, but if they're unable to improve after several tries, just move on to something else. The important thing is that you're showing your child how singing different songs and notes can work and they're making a consistent effort to sing.

Image by Don O'Brien on Flickr