AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and The White stripes: all of these legendary bands are in many peoples opinions the greatest bands of all time, but should you expose your children to them or only to classical music. In my household, all music is accepted. With both of my parents being musically inclined, I have always had exposure to a wide range of music. When I was born, the most popular trend among parents was to play classical music around your children, as it was said to increase the intelligence of children, develop their motor skills quicker, and make them generally more attentive.

I have always questioned this theory, and my life experiences make my doubts true. I honestly do not believe that this theory is true, since I am an honor roll student, and have barely listened to any classical music is my entire life. I grew up listening to The Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin, and many more. In my eye, Rock and Alternative music can benefit your children much more than any other types of music. Classical music contains little substance, and teaches children nothing about speech patterns, or the meaning behind the words. Most “Rock” songs contain a hidden meaning within the words, and the lyrics usually come from a place of pain and anguish (sometimes from a place of extreme joy or content). These amazing words help people get through hard times, and work though complicated feelings that might not be able to be fixed through talking to friends or family. Rock teaches you to cope with life, and learn to help yourself and others in time of need. Truthfully, the type of music that should be avoided from children is pop, because while it teaches people to have fun, it too contains no substance, and most people that enjoy it thoroughly do not learn important lessons that can be taught through the beauty that is Rock and Roll. All in all, really any music can help children, as long as it works for them. For all you know, when your child listens to Katy Perry, they could create an amazing interpretive dance, or solve an Einstein worthy math equation. Listen to your kids and their taste in music, because they will listen to whatever makes them feel good, and whatever they believe is going to help them reach their potential.

Find out more about music development in children at:

www.educationoasis.com/resources/Articles/building_babys_brain.htm