Singing a song while getting a child dressed creates a positive event out of a normally difficult situation, making the child look forward to it. The melody, rhythm, and rhyme in a song engages children more effectively than normal communication, making it easier for them to listen and participate. Singing has been found to be very helpful in engaging children, even though the science behind it is not fully understood.
A founding member of the band Gang of Youths. A single mum from Adelaide. A dad of two in Brisbane. What do all these people have in common?
They all have young kids, and they all sing to them constantly!
This week we ask: why do babies turn us into non-stop singing machines? Where does this instinct come from and what purpose does it serve?
This episode was first broadcast in August 2023.