Hi - it's E-J here!
Have you ever found yourself humming to your baby during a late-night feed or softly singing to your toddler on the drive home? If you have, you should know you’re doing something incredible. What may feel like a small family ritual is actually a building block for your child’s brain, language, and emotional connection!
At TipToe Music, we see this magic every day. Babies light up when they hear familiar tunes, toddlers beam when they anticipate a rhythm, siblings play together with instruments and parents rediscover their own voices in the process. Singing to a child isn’t just sound - it’s a form of communication, love, and connection from their most loved person in the world.
The Science Behind Singing
From the moment they’re born (and even before), babies are wired for rhythm. Research shows newborns can recognize their mother’s voice, heartbeat, and even songs they’ve heard when in the womb. When you sing, you’re engaging their developing brain in a way that speech alone can’t.
Melody, rhyme, and repetition helps create neural pathways that support:
-
Language development – melody helps babies pick up patterns of speech.
-
Memory and attention – repetition strengthens recall and focus.
-
Emotional regulation – your calm tone helps them learn how to self-soothe.
Studies from the University of Toronto and McMaster University have even shown that musical play improves babies’ social behaviour and coordination. So yes - every little lullaby session counts as neuroscience in action.
The Emotional Connection
Did you know that when you sing to your little one, you’re not just entertaining them - you’re helping them feel safe. Your voice becomes an anchor of familiarity in a world that’s brand new and can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Through your tone, tempo, and facial expressions, your child learns to read emotion. They hear when you’re happy, soothing, or playful. They watch your lips move, your eyes brighten, and your body sway - and they begin to copy you. This is called co-regulation: the shared rhythm of connection that builds emotional intelligence. It’s why your baby quiets down when you start to sing or smiles when they hear your voice rise and fall. It’s also why parents in our classes have been heard to say, “I didn’t realize how much my baby loves my singing until now.”
Singing as a Form of Play
Here’s the big and beautiful secret: your baby doesn’t care how you sound - they just want you to sing!
In the early years, play is how children learn everything. Singing is play in its simplest, most joyful form. It encourages movement, laughter, expression and discovery. It doesn’t require toys or a perfect voice - just YOUR presence.
At TipToe Music, we encourage families to let go of perfection and just join in the music-making. There’s no “right” way to participate. Babies might shake, bounce, or stare; toddlers might twirl, dance, or sing off-key. Every reaction is part of learning.
We often remind parents: it’s not a performance; it’s participation. That’s the heart of the Music Together® and the TipToe Music philosophy - music belongs to everyone, and every voice matters.
Why Group Music Classes Boost the Benefits
When you join a Music Together® class at TipToe Music, you’re giving your little one more than songs - you’re giving them community.
Group music-making exposes little ones to:
-
Diverse rhythms and voices - expanding their listening and cultural awareness.
-
Social learning - they watch and imitate other children and adults.
-
Confidence - parents model participation, showing it’s safe to express joy.
We see shy toddlers blossom after just a few weeks. Parents tell us they leave class with new lullabies, new friends, new family rituals and a renewed sense of calm. There’s something deeply reassuring about a room full of families all singing together — proof that connection doesn’t have to be complicated.
Everyday Moments That Count
You don’t need a special setup to make music at home. Try weaving it into your daily routine:
-
Try a morning song while you get dressed or get your winter boots, coats and ALL the things on before you go outside.
-
Introduce a bath-time rhythm game with claps and splashes to your shared favourite tune.
-
Enjoy a lullaby wind-down together before bed.
-
Make Friday night a dance party night or have fun with a kitchen concert while you cook dinner - no toddler will refuse!
These rituals create a sense of predictability and comfort for your child - and a joyfilled break for you - if you ask my kids what I would sing to them at bedtime when they were little they can still tell you (they are teenagers now!) - what they don't know is that song has been passed down the generations in my family!
What Do TipToe Parents Tell Us?
“My daughter used to cry in the car until we started singing her favourite class song.”
“It’s the one time of week I can truly slow down and just be with my baby.”
“I didn’t realize how much music mattered until I saw my son start keeping rhythm!”
These moments make our classes feel like family, where music becomes the language of connection, and make me extremely proud to see the impact our music-making has on so many families at TipToe!
So - next time you find yourself singing softly in the dark, remember: you’re not just passing time - you’re shaping a tiny brain, soothing a nervous system, and strengthening a bond that words alone can’t build. Because in the end, it’s not about the song - it’s about being together.
Join the Magic
If you want to experience this connection in a room full of joyful families, come join us at TipToe Music. Our Music Together® classes are available right across the West GTA and now available in Waterdown on Thursday and Saturday mornings from this winter. They are built on play, community, and research-based learning that makes every note count.
Come and experience the joy of music with TipToe Music!
Find out about our Waterdown classes HERE
Register for classes HERE
