Why parents should sing to their babies

C: Unsplash / Zach - Play songs shape the language skills of young children Parents often sing lullabies or happy play songs to their babies. But how do babies react to these everyday songs - and what role do they play in child development? A research team from the University of Vienna in collaboration with the University of East London investigated these questions in a recent study. The conclusion: Which songs parents sing with their little ones and how babies react to different rhythms is related to the children's later language development. The study is currently published in the journal Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience . Music plays a profound role in everyday human life - from a very early age. Around the world, parents instinctively sing to their babies in a variety of everyday situations, such as when changing diapers or playing. In doing so, they want to soothe their little ones, gain their attention or simply have fun together.