Beyond Cute: The Power of the Performing Arts in Early Childhood
By Shawn Lent, Manager of Dance Education
At Music House, we know that the performing arts—beyond being stinkin’ adorable—are superpowerful for young learners! Early childhood is widely recognized as the critical developmental stage spanning from birth to age 8. Our classes designed for these age groups bring the magic of music, dance, and theater to life for kids through play, creativity, and exploration. With a warm, welcoming environment and experienced educators who make every moment engaging, your little one can dive into the arts with confidence. Whether they’re twirling to their favorite tune, learning to hold a violin, belting out a song, or stepping into character, we’re here to make their stART to the arts a joyful journey.
Ready to begin? Click here to learn more about our many early childhood programs. Not sure your child is ready to stART? No problem! Music House offers free trials and 6-week introductory programs, so you can test the waters with ease.
So why are the performing arts such a big deal for young children? They help your child grow in all kinds of amazing ways—from boosting their creativity to building their confidence. Here are six ways the performing arts are pure magic for early childhood across various developmental domains:
AGES 0 - 2
Introducing performing arts at this age can set the stage for a lifetime of learning and creativity. Early exposure to music and movement enhances sensory development and strengthens emotional bonds between caregivers and children. Singing, dancing, and exploring rhythms with different instruments and materials helps build motor skills as well as bilateral, cross-lateral, and hand-eye coordination while fostering early language acquisition. Furthermore, these creative experiences nurture social interaction, spark curiosity, and lay the foundation for cognitive growth by encouraging self-expression and problem-solving.
Looking for a movement and music program designed for babies and toddlers? Music House is proud to offer Music Together®! Our 2025 Winter Session starts January 12th.
AGES 3 - 8
1. Physical Development: Moving, Grooving, and Growing
Dancing, singing, playing music, and acting help kids develop coordination, balance, and body awareness, while small movements fine-tune those oh-so-important fine motor skills. Whether they’re stomping, skipping, clapping, or twinkling their fingers on a keyboard, every move helps them grow stronger, become more agile, develop cross-lateral capacities, build proprioception, move through space on different levels, and refine hand-eye coordination.
2. Language and Communication: Words Take Center Stage
The performing arts make learning language fun and dynamic! From singing silly songs to acting out adventurous stories, children pick up vocabulary, rhythm, and pronunciation. They learn new words (like action verbs “twirl,” “pounce,” or “stretch” and adverbs “bravely,” “warmly,” or “eagerly”), practice speaking clearly, use expressive language in context, and build skills for reading through rhyming and syllable-clapping games. Performing in plays develops narrative structures, enriching storytelling abilities and coherence in communication. Dance routines follow a narrative or logical order, supporting understanding of chronological and spatial language. Dance and theater teach children to express ideas and emotions physically, reinforcing meaning behind words. And let’s not forget the confidence boost young artists get from speaking lines or singing in front of an audience. It’s like sneaking vegetables into mac and cheese—but for their language development!
Vocabulary Expansion
Rhythmic Speech
Phonological Awareness
Pronunciation Practice
Nonverbal Communication
Role-Playing and Dialogue
Sequencing and Storytelling Skills
Active Listening
Rhythm and Prosody
3. Creativity and Imagination: Anything Is Possible
The performing arts are a playground for your child’s imagination. They can be a brave knight, a soaring teradactyl, or a giggling monster—all in the same class! Through activities like improvisation and dramatic play, kids learn to think on their feet and dream big. Spontaneously speaking and creating their own movements, songs, stories, and rhythms fosters creativity, quick thinking, and adaptability. The best part? There’s no right or wrong answer in creativity. Every idea is a winner!
4. Social Development: Together, We Got This
The performing arts instill the value of cooperation and teamwork. Children learn to take turns, share ideas, and work together to create something amazing. Group activities in dance, music, and theater encourage a deeper understanding of social cues, which are essential for social development. Plus, an arts school (especially Music House) brings together children from different public schools, private schools, and homeschooling programs to learn together in a uniquely diverse environment. Together, learning music, stories, and dances from different cultures helps them appreciate diversity and understand the world around them. It’s all about making friends and building empathy—one “5, 6, 7, 8” at a time.
5. Cognitive & Academic Skills: Boosting Brain Power and School Success
Ever noticed how kids can remember every word of a song or every movement of “Baby Shark” but forget where they left their shoes? That’s the power of the performing arts! Activities sharpen memory, pattern recognition, and sequencing skills. Whether they’re learning a dance routine or memorizing lines, their brains are getting a workout and they are building skills they’ll use in school and beyond.
6. Emotional Development: Big Feelings, Safe Spaces
The performing arts give kids a safe way to express their ideas and explore their feelings. Whether they’re acting out a story, dancing to a sad song, or playing a joyful tune, they’re building emotional awareness. The practice and performance process helps children develop the abilities to recognize and regulate their own emotions. Plus, performing in front of others helps them build self-confidence and discover their unique voice. There’s nothing like being applauded by your family, friends, and neighbors to make a kid feel like a superstar!
At Music House, we celebrate every child’s individuality. Our programs are designed with neurodiversity and disability-integration in mind, so we meet all students where they are and help them shine. We balance technical skills with social-emotional growth and creativity—and we do it all in a supportive, inclusive environment. Every little artist deserves a bright stART, and we can’t wait to be part of your child’s journey!
Register your little one today! Click here to get stARTed.
Sources:
CASEL
CDC
ISBE Illinois Arts Learning Standards
National Dance Education Organization
“The Association between Music and Language in Children: A State-of-the-Art Review,” edited by Marta Gràcia
University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
