It's never too early to introduce music into a child's world. The Centre for Northern Families is hosting eight-week Kindermusik programs to bring parents and children together to experience the joy of music and movement.

The programs cater to parents or caregivers with children ranging from newborns to 18-month-olds and also children aged 18 months to three years.

Newborns and young toddlers use a variety of colourful shakers and music makers to discover sound and movement during the Kindermusik program. - photos courtesy of Kinder Musik

"Music is a developmental tool," said co-ordinator Tina Drew. "And the caregiver is a child's greatest educator."

The youngest program includes music and movement activities. The older toddlers graduate to instruments such as a recorder, dulcimer, glockenspiel and drums designed for small hands.

In addition to helping parents and children bond, music activities facilitate other spheres of learning, such as listening skills, social skills and language and motor development.

Children with developmental delays including FASD can hone concentration skills through music-related activities, said Drew. Parents can use the exercises to find ways their children can best learn to focus, she added. Parents and children can use music as a tool for learning sign language.

"The process is more important than the outcome," she explained.

Dr. Kami Kandola signed her seven-month-old son Jordan Mair up to the program. Her husband Norman Mair accompanies the child to the classes.

"It's really good for language skills, listening skills and movement," Adamchick said. "For social reasons it's a good thing to go to. Children are used to listening to their mom's heartbeat and we automatically sing to babies when they need to sleep or quiet down."

Parents interested in Kindermusik program can try it out with their children on Dec. 3 and Dec. 17 from 11 a.m. until noon. The regular program begins in January and will feature Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday classes. For more information, or to pre-register for January, contact the Centre for Northern Families.