How Music Enhances Early Childhood Development: Insights from Boogie Mites and Happy Days Nurseries
Boogie Mites has dedicated years to researching how music impacts the brains of young children. In this guest blog, we spoke with Sue Newman, founder of Boogie Mites, an organisation that develops music programs to enhance learning, development, and wellbeing in early childhood. Sue shares insights on how music can stimulate brain activity and support child development.
The science behind music and brain development
Research with children aged 3-4 years shows that processing language involves numerous neural messages firing around the brain. These messages use the same neural pathways developed through regular music practice in early childhood. Dr. Nina Kraus from Northwestern University, Illinois, found biological evidence linking music, rhythmic abilities, and language skills, particularly the ability to keep a beat with the neural encoding of speech sounds.
This research supports the use of music activities in early childhood as a powerful tool for development, including interventions to close the attainment gap. Starting a musical journey early maximises the developmental benefits for children.
You can find more details in a separate guest blog by Boogie Mites here.
Happy Days Nurseries and the Boogie Mites school-ready programme
Connect Childcare Customer, Happy Days Nurseries, has successfully implemented the Boogie Mites program across its 21 sites. Jackie Cambridge, Quality Manager, highlighted the numerous benefits of music in education, including:
- Enhancing school-ready skills
- Improving listening and attention
- Developing speech and language
- Fostering self-regulation
- Building group skills
- Enhancing fine and gross motor skills
- Establishing pre-literacy (phonics) foundations
- Laying maths foundations
- Supporting educator development and wellbeing
- Involving parents in activities and home learning
Jackie, with her extensive experience, shared insights on effectively rolling out the training, supporting implementation, ensuring quality provision, and integrating practices into the Happy Days curriculum.
“I have implemented Boogie Mites music programs and trained staff at two nursery groups. I’ve seen the positive response from staff, children, parents, and Ofsted. I highly recommend Boogie Mites Music Programs as a valuable investment.” – Jackie Cambridge, Quality Manager, Happy Days Nurseries.
“I enjoyed working with the groups from Happy Days Nurseries. They understood the value of music and eagerly discussed how they would adapt Boogie Mites for their settings, children, parents, and the wider community. They were enthusiastic and keen to get started.” – Liv Mclennan, Boogie Mites Trainer.
Embedding high-quality music provision
The 14-week implementation plan at Happy Days Nurseries helped colleagues gain confidence in leading and extending songs from the Boogie Mites School Ready Programme during both adult-led music sessions and daily routines. For example, “Tidy Up Tango” and “Chocolate Cake” were adapted to reflect healthy meals during snack times.
The plan also encouraged nurseries to develop a range of resources, often from recyclable, found, or natural materials, to support individual songs. Parents were actively involved, such as bringing bottles for their children to make shakers used in songs like “Shakey Shakey.”
Quality Team members who attended Liv’s training modelled song implementations and observed the impact of these sessions on children’s learning. This systematic approach ensured that the Boogie Mites School Ready Programme became an integral part of the Adventurers Rooms, building strong foundations for children’s learning, particularly in communication, language, and literacy. Daily high-quality music sessions now broaden children’s and staff’s musical experiences, supporting quality interactions through dancing, moving, singing, and having fun.
Before the training, Jackie collaborated with Boogie Mites to link each song within the program to the Happy Days Where Children Shine Curriculum, supporting children in becoming strong and motivated learners for life.
If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of music in early childhood development, visit their website for webinars that extend educators’ music confidence, knowledge, ideas, and resources.
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About the Author
Content Marketing Executive at Connect Childcare
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