AD. Encouraging your child to eat well, sleep early and keep on top of physical health will always be repetitive. Parents just want the best for their children and will never stop finding something new to introduce. Extracurricular activities are one that many parents find to be a fantastic option for their children. It can be an enjoyable way to stay fit or just be able to let go of school time. When it comes to instruments, some research has shown that they can aid overall academic performance. Still, wondering if learning an instrument is right for your child? Here are some reasons why you should encourage your child to give it a go.
[Photo by Colin Maynard on Unsplash]
Benefits of Learning an Instrument
Improves Self-Esteem
Children are at the peak of growing their confidence and building their self-esteem. Learning an instrument requires regular practice and working on new pieces of music regularly. These tend to be performed in front of family members or the public to show progression. This helps boost self-esteem as it allows them to feel a sense of achievement. Positive feedback and praise fuel motivation and can encourage your child to keep going on their journey to perfecting the instrument. The confidence attained alone will be useful in all aspects of life.
Time Management
Given that music lessons are taught regularly, your child will have to learn to manage their time efficiently in order to be able to schedule leisure activities too. Learning an instrument takes a lot of time and effort especially when the aim is to practice it well, so you’ll notice a shift in your child’s priorities as they start to identify what is more beneficial to them. From this, commitments such as schoolwork will become easier to handle and put before any socialising.
The Future
When the time comes for applying for universities or jobs, a cv or cover letter is required to show off unique skills. Employers and university boards look out for people who are unique and put in time and effort for something they deeply want to perfect. Your child will be able to say they persevered and picked up skills that taught them the importance of dedication and using their time well.
With these benefits in mind, definitely try and suggest to your child to learn a new instrument. remember not to force them and allow them time to find something they like and would like to pursue. Stay open-minded and be understanding.
This was an excellent read! I think it's a really important thing that we encourage kids to learn instruments. As you highlighted, it offers so much more than you'd initially think. My daughter learnt keyboard and the discipline she got from it has really helped with her studies years later.
Thanks for sharing.
Learning an instrument can be beneficial for a kid, but when deciding - parents need to understand that it takes commitment from them too, not only from a kid.
Parents need to be ready to drive to the contest and performances, sometimes it means sacrificing your day off and waking up early and driving several hours or arranging time off from work. Just to see maybe only 5 minutes performance. But for these 5 minutes, your kid has done a lot of work.
Parents need to support a kid, be there for performances and help them get into a routine of practicing. Our kids play and it's really sad to see small kids with no parents in the audience. If older kids this might be their choice, I don't believe it from the younger (under 10 years) kids. And if parents don't care - the kid's motivation is quick to dissolve if it's not their own choice and desire, but parents. Parents need to be the first and most loyal fans.
I'd definitely like to encourage my child to learn an instrument, I did when I was younger and I definitely think it helps being given something to focus on that isn't just school!
Amy x
callmeamy.co.uk
Making kids learn the instrument is really cool. I learned the piano when I was kid and i love it.
Such a great read! We’re at the stage where I’m thinking about extra curricular activities for A and would love to include her learning an instrument as she is so keen. We got her a little guitar for her birthday this year and she loves playing that (although out of tune of course, haha).
I think that it's good that kids learn an instrument in their life, I wish I did when I was growing up! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
This will always get a Yes from me. Even if, in the end, it amounted to nothing!