The Benefits of Singing, Reading and Signing at Home With Your Children

By Emily Reeve, Tiny Talk Derby North

Some of the most meaningful moments with our children happen in the simplest places—on the sofa with a much-loved picture book, during a long car ride singing their favourite nursery rhymes, or snuggled under a blanket humming the same lullaby you’ve sung a hundred times before. For me, those moments have shaped not only my children’s early years but also my classes where I connect with families

Singing: Connection Through Rhythm and Joy

Children love to hear us sing—whether or not we think we have a good voice! Songs naturally slow down our speech and exaggerate rhythms and sounds, which makes it easier for little ones to follow along. I remember singing the same nursery rhyme over and over with my son when he was tiny, and noticing how he began to anticipate the next word or action. Those repetitions weren’t just cute—they were building blocks for his early language.

Singing also creates beautiful bonding moments. There are days when life feels busy or overwhelming, but pausing to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle” with my daughter helps us both reset. Music has a magical way of settling anxious emotions and filling the room with warmth.

Singing releases oxytocin—the ‘love hormone’, naturally lowering cortisol levels. Singing with your child can help calm your nervous system, ease daily stress, and create a sense of grounding. Oxytocin is linked with feelings of happiness, warmth, and emotional safety. When parents sing, they often feel their own mood lift alongside their child’s.

Reading: Stories That Become Threads in Family Life

Reading is always a sacred time in our home. With both my son and daughter, stories create a little pocket of calm in our day.

Picture books help children make sense of the world: emotions, routines, friendships, even big feelings they can’t name. I can recite certain books from memory, not because I tried to, but because repetition is what children crave. That repetition helps expand their vocabulary and strengthens their understanding of language long before they recognised letters on a page. 

Some of our favourite stories to share are written by Julia Donaldson. I love the flow of the words, they feel almost like a song when you read them over and over again! Those bedtime stories also build routines that support sleep, transitions, and ultimately their confidence and readiness for learning.

Signing: A Beautiful Bridge Into Communication

Adding signs to songs and stories makes everything richer. Instead of just actions, signs become meaningful words. When we sang “Old MacDonald”, my children would proudly sign the animals; when we read stories, they joined in by signing whatever word connected with the page. It made reading and singing feel more interactive, more playful, more theirs.

FYI - Signing never delays talking—research shows it boosts communication, reduces frustration, and helps speech develop naturally.

A Home Filled With Language and Love

Singing, reading and signing together are small habits with big impact. They deepen bonds, build communication skills and create memories your children will carry with them long after they’ve outgrown your lap. And best of all—they’re easy, free, and can fit into even the busiest days.