When Do Children Start to Sing?

Although you might swear your 6-month-old has started humming nursery rhymes, most children don't start to sing until around the time that they have mastered a few words. But some children have the music in them more than others; if your child has an ear for music he might start humming fragments of tunes -- not always in key or with any type of rhythm -- even before he begins to talk.

  1. Early Singing

    • Early singing might not sound much like singing. Infants and toddlers can't imitate the exact notes of a song, so their version of a tune might sound more like a monotone, monosyllabic production with an indiscernible beat. Children worldwide sing first in two- to three-word chants, according to Montessori World Educational Institute. Young preschoolers don't recognize differences in pitch and will sing louder or softer rather than higher or lower. They also can't distinguish between the beat of the song and the rhythm of the words.

    Benefits of Singing

    • Between 18 and 24 months of age, most toddlers can hum and sing, the Encyclopedia of Children's Health states. Your toddler begins to follow the beat of the song and can follow the notes with some accuracy, albeit within a narrow range. While he might not be ready for Carnegie Hall, you can probably recognize what's he's singing. Music and rhythm enhance memory, which is why children learn to sing the ABCs before they say them. Singing also encourages both self-expression and vocal imitation.

    Encouraging Singing

    • In some cases, a child needs no encouragement to sing, while another may clam up if he thinks a parent is listening, especially if you make a big deal out of his singing or, worse yet, try to correct him. The best way to encourage your child to sing is to sing yourself, to listen to many different types of music and to be willing to repeat songs over and over. It may drive you crazy, but it's the best way to help children learn lyrics and understand the meaning of songs, according to certified speech language pathologist Lauren Lowry of the Hanen Centre.

    Teaching Children to Sing

    • The easiest songs for a child to learn have several things in common. They repeat key words or phrases, such as "Row, row, row your boat," or feature finger play or motions that accompany the words. Make songs part of your child's routine, such as a special bedtime song, or songs you sing when picking up toys or washing hands. Make singing a joint effort by singing part of the song and then stopping so he can sing the next phrase; appealing to his sense of silliness by substituting or mixing up words and letting him make the corrections is another good idea.

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