How musical toddlers become stronger readers.

Did you know you can support your toddlers' early reading skills through music? Most parents want to support strong language and early reading skills, especially in bilingual families where children may be learning to read more than one language.

Recent research shows that music, especially live, interactive music, strengthens the same brain systems toddlers rely on to become confident readers. Rhythm, melody, and movement help children tune into sounds, improve attention, and recognise patterns. Music builds sound awareness long before children see their first written words!

Children exploring musical instruments in a Bilingual Beats class.

Music and early reading, what the research shows 

Music and reading share the same underlying skills, and research shows music can significantly boost early literacy. When toddlers clap a beat or follow a melody, they are practising rhythm recognition and sound discrimination - essential for learning to read. A study of preschoolers found that children with stronger musical perception had noticeably better early reading scores, while a Cambridge study showed that musical activities improved phonological awareness even before formal reading began. More recent findings show that toddlers who process rhythms easily tend to become stronger readers later in childhood, and short rhythmic training can boost memory and early literacy skills.

Here are four key literacy skills that are strengthened by music in toddlers:

1. Phonological awareness - recognising and manipulating sounds in words

2. Working memory - storing and recalling sounds and vocabulary

3. Auditory discrimination - hearing subtle differences between speech sounds

4. Rhythmic sequencing - understanding order and patterns, essential for decoding

   
   

These benefits directly influence how easily a child learns to read, and are all developed through hearing and engaging in music.

Why music especially supports bilingual children

For toddlers, and particularly those who are bilingual, distinguishing between two sound systems requires strong auditory processing. Music naturally sharpens this ability, and a study on musical home environments proved that regular singing and rhythmic play improved sound discrimination, memory for new words, and speech processing for children born prematurely - further supporting the importance of musical homes and how they benefit children’s development. These are exactly the skills bilingual children rely on when switching between languages or learning new vocabulary.

Programmes like Bilingual Beats, encourage toddlers to experience Spanish and English through live music, rhythm patterns, gestures, and play. This multi-sensory input helps them absorb pronunciation and meaning more intuitively, making bilingual learning feel effortless. Because music engages emotion, movement, and sound all at once, it reinforces language in a way spoken instruction alone cannot - and even for adults music always makes learning more fun and engaging! 

How music promotes school readiness

As toddlers approach nursery or reception, there is a strong emphasis on their learning through the EYFS to promote and encourage school readiness. Working towards school readiness means children have developed the social, emotional, physical, communication, literacy, and numeracy skills needed to confidently engage with learning and routines in primary school. 

Following musical cues teaches children to focus and wait, while repeating rhythmic patterns strengthens sequencing skills used in phonics and storytelling. These early competencies help children feel more confident and prepared as they enter structured learning environments, as well as the benefits we’ve mentioned in specifically supporting early reading skills. 

As well as the academic advantages, exploring music in ways like group musical play encourages turn-taking, cooperation, and confidence during shared activities. Children who regularly engage with music often arrive at school with stronger sound awareness and clearer speech - two predictors of early reading success.

The lasting impact of music on early literacy skills 

If you want to support your toddler’s reading, language development, and bilingual confidence, regular music experiences are one of the most powerful, and joyful tools you can offer. Whether it’s singing at home or joining a structured programme like Bilingual Beats, every musical moment helps build the foundations for strong readers and confident little communicators!